EU clamps down on AI-generated music and deepfakes on music streaming platforms

The European Parliament has called for a new European Union (EU) legal framework to ensure that the music streaming sector is fair, sustainable and that it promotes cultural diversity. There are currently no EU rules that apply to music streaming services.

Members of the European Parliament (MEP) have suggested introducing a label to inform the public when the songs they listen to have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

Don't miss: Singapore to develop tools to detect deepfakes and reduce online risk

MEPs are also looking to tackle deepfakes on music streaming platforms that use the identities, voices and likeness of artists without their consent. The new rules should oblige streaming platforms to identify right-holders by correctly allocating metadata to make their works more visible, they added.

As part of its bill review, platforms such as Spotify may be obliged to make their algorithms and recommendation tools transparent. This is to prevent unfair practices such as the manipulation of streaming figures to reduce artists’ fees, said a statement by the European Parliament.

The current pre-digital royalty rates applied are also to be revised in light of payola schemes that force authors to accept lower or no revenues in exchange for greater visibility.

These new measures aim to address the imbalance in revenue allocation from the music streaming market that has left a majority of artists with very low compensation, said a statement by the European Parliament.

MEPs have also pointed out that revenues in the streaming market go primarily to major labels and the top few popular artists, while the less popular styles and less common languages are played less frequently.

“EU legislation should include diversity indicators to assess the array of genres and languages available and the presence of independent authors, and a European industrial strategy for music should promote the diversity of the European music sector, boosting smaller players,” they explained.

Concerns about unfair algorithmic practices come in the wake of music streaming platforms leveraging AI to improve their offerings. For example, in a bid to offer an added level of personalisation, Spotify rolled out its personalised AI DJ guide to Premium users in Singapore as it looks to connect artists and fans in a different way.

DJ is voiced by Spotify’s head of cultural partnerships, Xavier Jernigan, who introduces himself as “X” and aims to deliver a curated lineup of music based on a user’s listening habits.

In fact, Singapore is developing new tools to better detect deepfakes and to counter misinformation. The tools will be designed under a new SG$20 million initiative to build a safer internet, titled "Building an inclusive and safe digital society". 

Minister for communications and information Josephine Teo revealed the initiative in Parliament on 10 January, in which she shared her concerns surrounding deepfakes, scams and other online risks. 

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