Creators in Quebec and France are protesting the use of artificial intelligence to protect their professions and copyrights.

This movement reflects a growing global tension between generative AI developers and the creative class. Artists said that AI systems are trained on their intellectual property without permission, which threatens their job security and the legal protections of their work.

In France, the pushback reached a significant scale on Feb. 22, 2024, when 4,000 cinema figures [1] signed a petition opposing the unchecked rise of AI in the film industry. These professionals said that the technology could erode the necessity of human creators in cinema.

The protest extended into the music industry through unconventional means. On Feb. 26, 2025, more than 1,000 musicians [3] released a silent album [4]. The project served as a symbolic demonstration against the exploitation of human artistry by AI algorithms.

Similar concerns have surfaced in Quebec, where creators have voiced worries about the future of their livelihoods. According to Radio-Canada, artists in the region said that AI will undermine the value of human-led production and lead to widespread professional displacement.

These creators seek stricter regulations to ensure that AI cannot use their work without explicit consent. They said that the current trajectory of AI development prioritizes corporate efficiency over the rights of the individuals whose work makes the technology possible.

“Artists said that AI systems are trained on their intellectual property without permission.”

The coordinated actions across Quebec and France signal a shift from theoretical debate to active resistance among creative professionals. By using both legal petitions and conceptual art—such as the silent album—these artists are attempting to create a public and legal record of non-consent. This suggests that the battle over generative AI will likely move toward legislative demands for mandatory licensing and stricter copyright enforcement to prevent the unauthorized scraping of human-created content.