Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to toughen copyright laws for Australian creatives facing unauthorised use by AI models. Speaking in late July 2026, he called for rules balancing innovation and protection for artists. Calls have grown for a freeze on new server expansion until the government finalises AI rules to stop unauthorised scraping of artistic content. The prime minister’s call has drawn criticism over whether it can be enforced against global tech firms whose servers sit outside Australia. Labour backbenchers and industry groups warn weak penalties risk leaving creatives exposed despite the intended safeguards.