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Creative sovereignty as national security - A governance framework for generative AI

Creative sovereignty as national security - A governance framework for generative AI
Creative sovereignty as national security - A governance framework for generative AI
This paper argues that the UK faces a growing governance deficit as generative AI systems absorb and monetise British creative output without enforceable domestic control. As AI becomes infrastructure for cultural production and economic value, the UK risks losing creative sovereignty. The authors propose a structured‑permission model requiring compulsory licensing, transparent provenance reporting, and conditional market access for AI developers. A creative sovereignty levy, a purpose‑based trust to distribute proceeds, and an independent audit utility form the core of the framework. Together, these measures realign incentives, enhance accountability, and strengthen the long‑term resilience of the UK’s creative economy
policy, ai, Governance, national security, Artificial Intelligence
02
University of Southampton
Javanshir, Matthew Mahmood
6401b1e1-4423-4bf0-93ef-1a6ccc891e92
Sackley, Alistair
d13db512-8526-4ff3-8380-08db34d18656
Irvine, Thomas
aab08974-17f8-4614-86be-e94e7b9cfe76
Javanshir, Matthew Mahmood
6401b1e1-4423-4bf0-93ef-1a6ccc891e92
Sackley, Alistair
d13db512-8526-4ff3-8380-08db34d18656
Irvine, Thomas
aab08974-17f8-4614-86be-e94e7b9cfe76

Javanshir, Matthew Mahmood, Sackley, Alistair and Irvine, Thomas (2026) Creative sovereignty as national security - A governance framework for generative AI (WSI Policy Papers, 02, 2026) Southampton. University of Southampton 12pp. (doi:10.5258/SOTON/WSI-WP016).

Record type: Monograph (Project Report)

Abstract

This paper argues that the UK faces a growing governance deficit as generative AI systems absorb and monetise British creative output without enforceable domestic control. As AI becomes infrastructure for cultural production and economic value, the UK risks losing creative sovereignty. The authors propose a structured‑permission model requiring compulsory licensing, transparent provenance reporting, and conditional market access for AI developers. A creative sovereignty levy, a purpose‑based trust to distribute proceeds, and an independent audit utility form the core of the framework. Together, these measures realign incentives, enhance accountability, and strengthen the long‑term resilience of the UK’s creative economy

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2026-02 Creative Sovereignty as National Security - Version of Record
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More information

Published date: 31 March 2026
Keywords: policy, ai, Governance, national security, Artificial Intelligence

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 510317
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/510317
PURE UUID: cffdb395-2a3d-4661-93f4-2f620e6a35c5

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Date deposited: 25 Mar 2026 17:51
Last modified: 26 Mar 2026 17:44

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Contributors

Author: Matthew Mahmood Javanshir
Author: Alistair Sackley
Author: Thomas Irvine

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