In @CommonsCMS I spoke to the panel about AI and the need for regulation. 🧵

In the creative industries there should be "no Artificial Intelligence without Emotional Intelligence - ie the human factor... AI can be a wonderful servant, but it would make a terrible master." (1/6) Reema Selhi, Head of Policy & International at DACS:

"It's important for us not to have a race to the bottom - lots of AI developments we've seen are effectively extractive, they extract content which has already been made available online and turning that into a product." (2/6)

I have been questioning the appointment of Richard Sharp to the position of BBC Chair for over two years now - and what role the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has played in this.

🧵A thread: I first asked Richard Sharp about his relationship with Boris Johnson in 2021 and asked him outright if the then Prime Minister had helped him to become BBC Chair. He denied this.

https://twitter.com/KevinBrennanMP/status/1617485019848515584

In @CommonsDCMS I asked the panel for their thoughts about the Government's decision to allow the data mining of music catalogues which could allow AI to imitate and rip off the work of some of our most beloved artists, bands and musicians - and not pay them a penny. (1/4) Svana Gisla, the producer of ABBA Voyage, says "ermerging and existing artists have a hard enough time surviving" as it is, without "competing" with tech which can do this. She adds, "it's terrible, it's a bad idea." (2/4)

In @CommonsDCMS I spoke to the BBC's Director General, Tim Davie, about the broadcaster’s outsourcing of programmes. Firstly, I asked him for his views on the BBC outsourcing programmes to certain companies who clearly do not respect creators' intellectual property. (1/5) Tim Davie tells me, outside of news and sport, the BBC has always sourced in-house and out-of-house. He adds when the BBC deals with outside entities it shouldn't be up to the BBC to judge how these companies operate. (2/5)

Reasons why #Eurovision2023 should be in friendly Cardiff - a thread 1/8 Venue - Principality Stadium - 74,000 capacity with roof ! - record audience and could offer lots of free tickets to our Ukrainian guests 2/8

Today the @CommonsDCMS Committee published their report on the problem of concussion in sport. Here is a thread of some of the issues the report raised and its recommendations. #concussion #concussioninsport (1/25) Despite the need for acquired brain injury to be taken seriously by sport, both written and oral evidence to this inquiry support the health benefits to people through mass participation in sporting activity. (2/25)

Today the @CommonsDCMS Committee publishes its report into the economics of music streaming. Here's a thread of the report's findings and recommendations. (1/25) #BrokenRecord #FixStreaming Streaming has helped save the music industry following two decades of digital piracy but it is clear that what has been saved does not work for everyone. Issues created by streaming reflect fundamental problems within the recorded music industry. Streaming needs a reset. (2/25)

Here's a short thread of the questions I asked Lord Frost in today's @CommonsDCMS inquiry into EU visa arrangements for creative workers. #CarryOnTouring (1/9) Firstly I told Lord Frost I found his approach to Select Committee scrutiny appalling. I then asked him if he sees the issue of touring as an immigration issue or a trade issue? After repeating my question, he eventually says "both" but he says it's a complex question. (2/9)

Here's a thread of the questions I asked in today's @CommonsDCMS inquiry into EU visa arrangements for creative workers. Witnesses include @TamaraCincik of @FashionRoundTab, @noelmc66 of @bectu and Craig Stanley of @MarshallArts. #CarryOnTouring (1/12) Firstly it's important to point out that this committee should have been scrutinising Lord Frost - current Cabinet Office Minister who also serves as the Government's Chief Negotiator of Task Force Europe. Disgracefully, Lord Frost cancelled. (2/12)

https://twitter.com/KevinBrennanMP/status/1402868550742724611

Today we should have been questioning Lord Frost @CommonsDCMS Committee on post Brexit touring issues - he didn’t want to come and now has pulled out of appearing - parliamentary scrutiny is not an optional activity for Ministers - this contempt for democracy must stop In response to @julianknight15's point of order over Lord Frost's no show @CommonsDCMS, the Deputy Speaker has said: "The Govt must make every effort to ensure the appropriate Ministers are able to give evidence to committees in a timely fashion." (1/2)

Here's a short thread of the questions I asked the Minister for Sport, Nigel Huddleston MP, in the latest session of @CommonsDCMS' inquiry into #concussion in sport. (1/8) In most jobs health and safety is of paramount importance and action can be taken when/where it fails. I asked the Minister what is stopping concussion in professional sport being seen as an industrial disease. (2/8)

Here's a short thread of the questions I asked the Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, on the ICO’s investigation into Cambridge Analytica's seized servers and use of personal data. @CommonsDCMS Firstly, I asked the Information Commissioner about the US Intelligence Committee's report and if they had contacted the ICO to receive evidence that had been seized from Cambridge Analytica's servers. She says she hasn't been contacted but would share if officially requested.

The UK government has consistently failed to recognise the scale of the challenge facing those in the creative industries. Here's a short thread on today's @CommonsDCMS report on the impact of Covid-19, the problems faced and some of the recommendations. In the first 12 weeks of lockdown, more than 15,000 theatre performances were cancelled at a loss of more than £303 million. Julian Bird, CEO of @uk_theatre told us 70% of theatres and production companies risked going out of business by the end of the year.

The UK government needs to appoint an Online Harms Regulator now to prevent a repeat of the damage done by fake news and misinformation on Covid-19 which has spread like wild fire on social media platforms. Here is short thread on @CommonsDCMS' findings. The Misinformation in the COVID-19 Infodemic report finds:

Today in @CommonsDCMS we looked at the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the music industry with @WeAreTheMU's General Secretary, Horace Trubridge. Here's a short thread on some of the important issues discussed. I asked him how the Covid-19 crisis has impacted the music industry. He tells me it has hit the livelihood of musicians and those working in the industry hard. He adds that more than 20% of people believe they will have to leave music and start a new career.

In today’s @CommonsDCMS we looked at the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. Here is a short thread on the questions I asked @bernarddonoghue, Director of @alva_uk. It's quite clear the tourism industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors and urgent government is needed I asked Bernard to give an honest assessment of the impact of Covid-29 on the tourism sector. He tells me it has not only highlighted how important tourism is to the British economy but also how vulnerable it really it is.

Short thread on #BrokenRecord - this is a really interesting report with stats from Music Business World - here mailchi.mp/musicbizworldw… 1/5 It shows a changing current in music streaming services like Spotify - people aged 45 and above added more music subscriptions in UK (+1.695m) in past year than everyone 44 and under (+1.14m) 2/5

In Today’s @CommonsDCMS Committee, I questioned the Chairman of the @EFL, Rick Parry, on the impact of Covid-19 on football and what the future holds for clubs like my team @CardiffCityFC. Here is a short thread on some of the important things we discussed. #Bluebirds I asked Mr Parry if he has held discussions with the @premierleague regarding promotion and relegation and if he expects it to go ahead.

With Mark Zuckerberg still refusing to appear before the @CommonsDCMS Committee, Facebook UK sent their Policy Manager, Richard Earley. So here is a short thread on some of the important issues I raised during today's meeting. I asked Facebook's representative if he had met with Mark Zuckerberg to discuss some of the important issues parliament has raised such as safeguarding and misinformation. Not only had he not met or spoken with Mr Zuckerberg, he had not even spoken with Nick Clegg.

In today's @CommonsDCMS Select Committee we were able to question the government's Secretary of State for DCMS on the impact the coronavirus is having on the creative industries. Here's a short thread on some of the important issues I raised. @WeAreTheMU @UK_Music In almost ten years of Tory governments there have been ten appointments to the position of Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. Given Tory ministers barely last a year in the role, do you not think the creative industries deserve better?

Back in 2001 we established the principle that the Government Ministers did not nominate individuals as Select Committee Chairs - now they are trying to overturn that principle by inventing a new post with no proper election

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme…

https://twitter.com/KevinBrennanMP/status/1249635698778476544

Until now the Liaison Committee made up of all elected Select Committee Chairs have chosen a Chair themselves not had it chosen by Ministers - which raises some questions about the Government's sudden urge to pick the Chair itself 1/11