The ABC believes its content may have been scraped for AI use, but it has not established that this happened. At a hearing of Australia’s Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, ABC head of content and legal operations Kate Gilchrist said she did not think the broadcaster had “conclusive evidence” of scraping, while describing it as a likely possibility, according to The Next Web’s October 6, 2026 report.
What the ABC told the AI inquiry
Gilchrist’s reported statement draws a clear line between suspicion and proof: the ABC had no conclusive evidence that its material was scraped, but she considered it likely that it had been. The report does not describe a forensic finding or identify a particular AI company as responsible.
The hearing was before the Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence in Sydney. The Next Web quoted Gilchrist as saying: “I do not think we have conclusive evidence that we have been scraped, but I expect that there is a likely possibility that we have been.” The hearing transcript was not independently available for verification, so the quotation and account here are attributed to that report.
What the ABC wants AI companies to do
The Next Web characterizes the ABC’s position as support for using existing copyright law, with AI companies seeking licences from rights holders to use their material. The report says the ABC and SBS made similar arguments in written submissions and sought payment from AI firms for Australian news; that is the report’s summary, not a direct quotation from the submissions.
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Gilchrist reportedly opposed an opt-out approach in which copyrighted content could be used unless its owner had first objected. Her concern was the practical burden: publishers cannot search the entire web and register an objection on every site where their work might appear.
What is known—and what is not
- Known from the report: Gilchrist said the ABC lacked conclusive evidence, while judging scraping a likely possibility.
- Not established: The report does not prove that scraping occurred, identify a specific company, or document a technical investigation.
- Policy position reported: The ABC favours licensing under existing copyright law and objects to placing the practical burden of opting out on rights holders.
- Official record: The hearing transcript, ABC submission and committee documents were not independently retrieved for this account. The report therefore should not be read as an official committee finding or a final statement of Australian law.
Australian copyright context reported alongside the hearing
The Next Web also reported that Attorney-General Michelle Rowland announced in October 2025 that the government had ruled out a broad exception allowing AI companies to train on copyrighted work for free. That is secondary-source context; it does not by itself establish the full current state of Australian copyright law or settle how any particular use of content is treated.
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AI use inside the ABC
Separately, the report quoted ABC senior policy executive David Sutton as saying the broadcaster did not plan to replace newsreaders with AI, while allowing that AI might be needed in some areas of programme making. This is distinct from the question of whether outside AI companies used ABC material to train systems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Has the ABC proved that AI companies scraped its content?
No. The reported evidence is Gilchrist’s assessment that scraping was likely, alongside her statement that the ABC had no conclusive evidence.
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Did the report name a company that scraped ABC material?
No. It does not identify a company-specific finding.
Why does the ABC reportedly oppose an opt-out model?
Gilchrist’s reported concern is that publishers would have to find and block possible uses across the web, a burden she said the ABC could not realistically carry out site by site.
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