The Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act (COPIED Act), a bipartisan initiative led by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell, aims to tackle the challenges posed by AI-generated deepfakes and unauthorized content replication.
The Act proposes the implementation of watermarking technology to protect original content by allowing creators to embed unique, unalterable markers in their work. This measure is intended to enhance transparency and authenticity in online content, enabling creators to retain control over their intellectual property.
Senator Cantwell underscored the necessity of the COPIED Act during her statement to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation, and Science, emphasizing its significance for artists, journalists, and musicians.
The urgency of the bill is further highlighted by recent legal issues, such as The New York Times suing OpenAI for copyright violations due to data scraping. The Act’s introduction is motivated by the need to address growing concerns over AI practices and to provide a framework for protecting intellectual property in the digital age.
The COPIED Act also reflects the broader regulatory concerns within the tech industry, with companies like Microsoft and Apple distancing themselves from OpenAI amidst privacy and data misuse issues.
Microsoft’s withdrawal from OpenAI’s board, despite a significant investment, and potential antitrust investigations by European regulators, underscores the global scrutiny faced by AI companies. These developments indicate a pressing need for comprehensive legislation like the COPIED Act to ensure ethical AI usage and protect creators’ rights.
While the US Senate is taking steps to regulate AI and protect intellectual property, China is rapidly advancing in AI adoption. A survey by SAS and Coleman Parkes Research reveals that China leads global investment in generative AI technology, with 83% of Chinese respondents using it.
This contrasts with lower adoption rates in the United Kingdom (70%) and the United States (65%), highlighting China’s significant strides in integrating AI across various industries.
The survey results indicate that globally, 54% of respondents have adopted generative AI, with extensive use in sectors such as insurance, retail, banking, telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy.
These industries are leveraging AI to boost efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness, reflecting the technology’s growing importance in the digital landscape. The COPIED Act, therefore, is a crucial legislative response to the rapid evolution and widespread adoption of AI, aiming to balance technological advancement with ethical and legal safeguards for creators.
