# Jack Thorne calls for laws banning secret AI use in scriptwriting

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-09-14T05:00:26Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/jack-thorne-calls-for-laws-banning-secret-ai-use-in-scriptwriting

## Summary

Jack Thorne, president of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain and co-writer of *Adolescence*, has urged the UK government to legislate against the undisclosed use of AI in professional scriptwriting. Speaking in London, Thorne distinguished between using AI for minor assistance, such as spell-checking, and using it to replace the creative effort of writing. He described the latter as a form of fraud that cheats employers and colleagues, arguing that passing off AI-generated content as human work should be unlawful and subject to prosecution.

Thorne criticized the current government for being "dazzled by tech" and failing to protect copyright holders from the mass scraping of their work by AI models. He highlighted that some studio executives have reported writers using AI prompts instead of writing words, which undermines the integrity of the profession. To address this, Thorne proposed that broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4 implement sanctions for writers found to have used AI without disclosure. He emphasized that clear legal boundaries are essential to protect vulnerable writers and maintain the value of human creativity in the face of rapid technological change.

The call for regulation comes amid ongoing debates about AI's impact on the creative industries. Thorne argued that the government must take a proactive stance to prevent AI from being built on "copyright crime" and to ensure that the next decade sets a precedent for the future of writing. While acknowledging the need for adaptation, he insisted that legislation is necessary to stop the worst excesses of AI adoption and to uphold the rights of creators.

## Key points

- Jack Thorne urges UK laws to make undisclosed AI-generated scripts fraudulent and prosecutable.
- Thorne criticizes government inaction on copyright protection against AI model training data scraping.
- He calls for broadcasters to sanction writers who use AI to replace creative effort rather than assist it.

## Why it matters

This highlights a growing tension between AI adoption and creative integrity. Legal clarity on AI-generated content is crucial for protecting intellectual property and defining professional standards in the entertainment industry.

## Sources

1. [Jack Thorne warns some fellow scriptwriters are using AI ‘to cheat’](https://theguardian.com/stage/2026/sep/14/jack-thorne-scriptwriters-ai-artificial-intelligence) (The Guardian AI, 2026-09-14)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Jack Thorne calls for laws banning secret AI use in scriptwriting", 14 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/jack-thorne-calls-for-laws-banning-secret-ai-use-in-scriptwriting

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