Society of Authors Withdraws From Its Own Ethical AI Charter
The UK Society of Authors has withdrawn from the Ethical AI Charter it launched just one week earlier. The organisation, which represents writers and illustrators in Britain, told members by email on 21 October 2026 that it was stepping back from the document.
The charter was announced on 14 October 2026 as a set of commitments on the responsible and ethical use of generative AI services. Generative AI is the technology behind tools that produce text, images or audio from a written prompt. Publishers Weekly reported that the charter was launched alongside international writers' groups. In the launch announcement, the Society's chief executive, Anna Ganley, said such services should be governed in ways that protect and support human creators.
The reaction was quick. Authors argued that there is no way to use AI ethically, and the criticism came in fast. Ganley responded with posts meant to explain what the Society intended. A CEO blog dated 15 October called the charter a "small step towards defining what ethical and responsible AI might look like in the creative industries."
That push-back did not last. On its website, the Society said: "To allow time to listen to members' views and concerns, the Society of Authors will withdraw from the Charter." It has invited members to keep sharing their views through a survey, and says it will discuss the matter further. The Bookseller reported the withdrawal, which it linked to the member backlash and the statement that followed.
For writers, the argument is a basic one. Many authors fear that AI systems are trained on books and articles without permission or payment, and some doubt that any use of the technology can be fair to the people whose work it draws on. A charter is meant to be a shared rulebook, so a group that signs up to one is effectively promising to follow it. The Society has now chosen to pause and ask its members first.
Nothing has been finalised. The Society has not said when its discussions will conclude, or whether a revised charter will follow. What is clear is the order of events: a launch on 14 October, criticism from members, and a withdrawal on 21 October.
