AI firms warn of dangers while pushing weaker copyright laws, senator says

Major artificial intelligence companies are warning governments about their technology's dangers while simultaneously pressuring them to weaken copyright laws and fast-track data centre approvals across the country, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told ABC News Breakfast.

Hanson-Young said the companies want to expand their infrastructure and operations in Australia before there is proper understanding of the threats the technology poses. "We know that there's residents in Sydney, in Queensland, in Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory, even in my home state here in South Australia who are really feeling railroaded because these big AI companies want to set up shop very quickly before there's a real understanding of the threats of this technology, what the rules will be, what the guardrails will be," she said.

The senator said while AI companies themselves warn of how powerful their technology could be, they continue pressuring government to allow them to roll out infrastructure without restriction. "I think that's all a bit rich, frankly," Hanson-Young said.

Hanson-Young said Australians face significant risks from rapid data centre rollouts, including massive water and energy consumption, increased energy prices, more pollution, and job losses. "They want to steal copyrighted material. They want weaker laws for copyright," she said.

The senator raised concerns about OpenAI's access to Australian government systems. "This was all happening while OpenAI executives were in Canberra meeting with government officials trying to get weaker copyright laws, trying to get a fast track for their data centres, the infrastructure to superpower this AI technology," Hanson-Young said.

She called for stronger accountability and proper investment in AI security agencies. "We need to make sure that we're not just rolling over because we're starry-eyed with the dollars that they're promising," Hanson-Young said.

Hanson-Young said AI "does not have a social licence in this country" and that the behaviour of these companies would make it harder to earn public trust. She rejected the argument that threatening action against tech companies risked their cooperation. "You need companies that are willing to work with you, but you need companies who are willing to work within the law," she said.

The heads of OpenAI and Anthropic have been called to appear before a Greens-led inquiry into data centre rollouts across Australia.