Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to toughen copyright laws for local artists facing unauthorised use by AI systems. Speaking in late July 2026, he called for rules balancing innovation and protection for artists. Calls have grown for a freeze on new data centre builds until the government finalises AI rules to stop unapproved data harvesting of creative works. Albanese’s proposal has drawn criticism over whether it can be enforced against global tech firms whose servers sit outside Australia. Experts and MPs argue weak penalties risk leaving artists exposed despite the intended safeguards.