Newspaper Group Calls on AI Companies to Get Permission to Use News Content; Says Unauthorized Training Could Amount to Copyright Infringement
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
The Nippon Press Center building, which houses the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association, in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association on Wednesday released a statement calling for generative artificial intelligence service providers to obtain permission from news organizations when training AI tools on news content.
The association also urged the government to establish a system to protect news content, saying that a growing number of AI-based services are now using this material without permission.
In the statement, the association noted that some of its member news organizations have taken technical measures on their news sites to indicate their rejection of unauthorized AI training and use of their news content, but that some AI service providers have ignored these measures.
The association stated that such acts 'could amount to copyright infringement' if they 'unreasonably prejudice the interests of the copyright owner,' in the words of the Copyright Law, which governs AI training on copyrighted works.
In addition, the statement addressed the worsening problem of so-called 'zero-click searches,' in which users find information to their query directly in their search results, so they do not click through to visit the website that the information comes from. The association expressed serious concern about this issue and raised questions over AI services 'free riding' on news content.
'If the functions of news organizations, which are responsible for disseminating the news, deteriorate, the public's right to know is sure to be hampered,' the statement said, calling for the implementation of 'comprehensive measures that go beyond the existing framework.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan to Carry over Imperial Family Talks to Next Diet Session
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo The Diet Building in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Diet leaders on Friday confirmed that discussions on proposed Imperial family will be carried over to the expected next extraordinary session of the Diet that may be held in autumn. House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi agreed to give up trying to form a consensus on plans to secure an adequate number of Imperial family members during the current ordinary session slated to end on June 22. The agreement was made because ruling and opposition parties remain apart on the issue. The ruling and opposition camps started their discussions in May last year, focusing on the ideas of allowing female Imperial family members to remain in the family even after marriage and adopting male members in the paternal line of former Imperial family branches who were removed from the family in 1947.
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Govt Unveils Guidelines for Managing AI-Incorporated Defense Systems; Aims to Cancel Research of Systems Deemed High Risk
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, left, receives an explanation of the next-generation fighter jet at DSEI Japan 2025, an international defense and security equipment exhibition, in Chiba Prefecture in May. The Defense Ministry has unveiled guidelines for managing the risks associated with defense equipment incorporating artificial intelligence, with the aim of ensuring the use of AI remains within the scope of human control. The guidelines clearly state that the government will not permit the research and development of defense equipment if it is found to be Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) , in which a human is not involved in selecting targets or deciding which targets to attack. According to the guidelines, risk management for research and development must be conducted in three stages: classification of AI equipment, a legal review and technical review. Equipment will be examined under these guidelines based on how the judgement of the AI system impacts destructive capabilities, dividing research and development targets into high-risk and low-risk categories. If deemed high-risk, the government will assess compliance with international and domestic laws prior to the commencement of research and development. This includes missile launches that are assisted by AI to identify targets. If deemed LAWS, the system's development and research will be canceled. After the legal review is complete, the process moves on to a technical review. This stage verifies that the design allows for human control and ensures safety through mechanisms that reduce AI malfunctions. To ensure an effective review, the ministry will need the cooperation of defense contractors that design equipment incorporated with AI, requiring them to disclose AI algorithms and other relevant information. The ministry plans to finalize the specific methods for ensuring cooperation through future discussions with the companies.
The Mainichi
6 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Japan brokerages donating shareholder perks to help kids in poverty
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese securities firms are donating the food and beverage gifts they receive as shareholder perks through their trading activities to nonprofit organizations to support children living in poverty amid inflation. The Japan Securities Dealers Association started the program in 2020, and around 2,300 donations had been made by March this year. Under the program, a list of shareholder perks is presented to registered organizations channeling the goods to recipients each week and the organizations then convey their requests to the securities firms. As of April, 61 companies and 48 organizations had registered with the program. Around 11 tons of rice and 8,600 liters of beverages have been donated, with rice and ready-made foods such as curry among the popular products. IwaiCosmo Securities Co. previously distributed shareholder perks to younger employees via a lottery as part of its welfare program, but now donates rice and canned goods to organizations. The Osaka-based brokerage has received feedback that its donations were delivered to single-mother households and served at a gathering of children. "We feel it is significant that goods are being used by people who really need them," a company official said. Monex Inc. has been donating shareholder perks to various organizations across the country since 2024, with an official saying it intends to continue using the program as it is difficult to find recipients on its own. NPO Bridge for Smile, which supports children and young people who cannot rely on their parents, receives donations of food and disaster stockpiles on a regular basis through the program. "As there are some people who only have one meal a day due to soaring rice prices, we are grateful that it helps them survive," said Ryuta Suzuki, a member of the group.
