Elton John slams UK’s AI copyright plans as “criminal”: “We’ll fight it all the way”Sir Elton John has slammed the UK government as “absolute losers” over its handling of artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright law, accusing ministers of siding with big tech firms at the expense of artists.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the music icon criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government for rejecting proposals from the House of Lords that would have forced AI developers to disclose the copyrighted materials they use to train their models.

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He says that ministers would be “committing theft, thievery on a high scale” if they went ahead with plans to allow AI firms to use artists’ content without paying.
“The danger is for young artists, they haven’t got the resources to keep checking or fight big tech,” John tells BBC. “It’s criminal and I feel incredibly betrayed.”
“A machine… doesn’t have a soul, doesn’t have a heart, it doesn’t have human feeling, it doesn’t have passion. Human beings, when they create something, are doing it… to bring pleasure to lots of people,” he adds.
John’s comments come after MPs in the House of Commons voted down a Lords amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill on Wednesday. The proposed change would have added transparency requirements around training data, ensuring creators gave permission before their work was used.
“The House of Lords did a vote, and it was more than two to one in our favour,” he says. “The government just looked at it as if to say, ‘Hmm, well the old people… like me can afford it.’”
The singer, who has been a vocal advocate for artists’ rights throughout his career, didn’t hold back, describing the government as “absolute losers” and labelling Technology Secretary Peter Kyle “a bit of a moron”.
John also accuses ministers of being out of touch and warns that they are poised to “rob young people of their legacy and their income.” He says if Labour’s current plans are enacted, he’s prepared to take the government to court: “We’ll fight it all the way.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the UK government has said that “no changes” to copyright laws would be “considered unless we are completely satisfied they work for creators”.
“We have committed to publishing a report and economic impact assessment – exploring the broad range of issues and options on all sides of the debate,” the statement read.
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