AI news should carry ‘nutrition labels’, UK thinktank urges
IPPR calls for transparency rules and licensing regime as artificial intelligence reshapes how audiences access current affairs.
AI-generated news content should be clearly labelled in the manner of food packaging, according to a new report that argues stronger intervention is needed to protect journalism as artificial intelligence becomes a primary gateway to information.
The left-of-centre thinktank Institute for Public Policy Research said technology companies were fast becoming the internet’s new gatekeepers and should be required to disclose how AI-generated answers are assembled.
It proposed standardised “nutrition labels” showing which sources had informed an AI response, including academic research and reporting from established news organisations.
The IPPR also said publishers should be paid for the use of their content, recommending a UK licensing regime that would allow collective negotiation with AI companies.
The report suggested the Competition and Markets Authority could play a role, using its new powers to address practices such as content scraping by Google.
The findings come as AI tools are increasingly used for news consumption, with Google’s AI overviews reaching billions of users each month.
The IPPR tested several systems, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and found significant differences in which publishers were cited.
It warned that licensing deals risk favouring large outlets while marginalising smaller and local news providers.
While such agreements could offset lost advertising revenue, the thinktank cautioned they would not, on their own, sustain a healthy news ecosystem.
The report called for public funding to support investigative journalism, local reporting and innovation at the BBC, as governments adapt media policy for the AI age.
