Writers Strike Day 60 something
Unfortunately there is not much to report at the day 60 of the WGA strike with no end in sight. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is still on strike over the increasing power that major studios and streaming platforms have with the new rise of AI technology. On the side of major studios and streaming platforms is the repeal of net neutrality which has made it easier for these companies to prioritize their own content and service making it harder for the WGA to negotiate fair terms for its members. The strike has already had a significant impact on Hollywood, with productions being delayed or canceled and hurting dozens of industries connected to Hollywood. It is unclear how long the strike will last, but it is clear that it is a major issue for the film and television industry. The WGA is asking for increased compensation for writers, as well as more control over how their work is used in part due to the major concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry. The strike is supported by several other labor unions, including the Directors Guild of America. The DGA recently completed a three-year contract with studios and streaming services, but they are also concerned about the impact of net neutrality and AI on the entertainment industry. The WGA strike is a major test for the film and television industry as it remains to be seen whether the studios and streaming platforms will be willing to negotiate with the WGA, or whether the strike will drag on for weeks or even months.
The WGA strike of 2023 is about several grievances but the strike has a singular focus on protesting the increasing power of major studios and streaming platforms. The repeal of net neutrality allows major studios and streaming platforms to use their market share of power to negotiate unfairly with terms that do not benefit writers. Net neutrality was the federal policy that all internet traffic should be treated equally, regardless of its source or destination which means internet service providers were not able to block or slow down certain websites or services. Before net neutrality Verizon had the right to block requests from NARAL Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group, to make Verizon’s mobile network unavailable for a text-message program because Verizon said the abortion rights text messages were “controversial and or unsavory.” The fact Verizon and other major wireless corporations can choose to discriminate is very troubling and will no doubt lead to more corruption.
Currently there are no federal net neutrality laws in the United States as the Trump administration instructed the FCC to repeal net neutrality rules in 2017. The FCC repealing net neutrality meant it is legal to allow internet service providers to stall web traffic, block websites, and slow streaming services with prejudices and bias. Since then, no new federal laws have been passed to reinstate them, however; several states including California have enacted similar or their own version of a net neutrality law. The repeal of net neutrality laws benefits large corporations by allowing them to prioritize their own private content and services over the public and those of their competitors which gives them a significant unfair advantage in the entertainment marketplace and making it harder for independent businesses to compete.
The digital divide between broadband internet access is certainly at it’s peak. The repeal of net neutrality has created a marketplace that allows large companies to form and create a monopolies at will with new technology is what is at the hear of what the WGA strike is about. The WGA is reacting to the current climate where businesses are interrupted when monopolies are formed out of the wake of the repeal of net neutrality. The WGA strike is mostly about AI and how AI gives internet providers more power to favor their own streaming platforms over those of their competitors, but as the WGA strike lingers on, people will continue to hear about the urgency to reinstate net neutrality type laws.
Hollywood wants to get back to work even though more labor groups are gearing up to join the WGA strike. AI technology is here but needs guidance to prevent job loss and culture loss. Telling and recording stories is incredibly American however; only allowing the rich and powerful access to storytelling tools is very unAmerican. You need a human to tell that story, to translate that story from book to screen play. AI can help adapt a book to a screenplay but you need a human to give that screenplay characters that matter and themes that touch our hearts and dialogue that makes us laugh which is something AI cannot do.
Tyler Granger
Iowa Author
