MeshUp #19 – Neck-Deep in Digital Oil? Public Broadcasting Archives as AI Training Data Sets
Brecht Declercq will present Neck-Deep in Digital Oil? Public Broadcasting Archives as AI Training Data Sets.
Abstract
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered an unprecedented demand for high-quality training data, bringing public broadcasting archives into sharp focus. Rich in curated audiovisual content and structured metadata, these archives represent uniquely valuable datasets, combining scale, reliability, and cultural depth. This talk examines how and why such archives are increasingly positioned as strategic resources within an emerging global market for AI training data.
It explores the implications of this development along three interconnected dimensions. Strategically, public broadcasters face a tension between monetisation opportunities and the risk of reinforcing external AI actors, potentially at the expense of their own long-term relevance. Legally, the use of archival content for AI training is shaped by an evolving and fragmented landscape of copyright, data protection, and contractual constraints. Ethically, the role of archives as carriers of societal memory raises fundamental questions about bias, representation, and democratic accountability in AI systems.
Situating these challenges within broader shifts in data markets and AI governance, the talk highlights the need for deliberate positioning by public service actors. It argues that decisions taken today will shape not only the future value of archives, but also their role in the wider AI ecosystem.
Bio
Brecht Declercq is Head of Archives at RSI, the public broadcaster of Italian-speaking Switzerland. From 2013 to 2022, he served as Digitisation and Acquisition Manager at meemoo – the Flemish Institute for Archiving, leading the digitization of Flanders’ audiovisual heritage. Between 2004 and 2013, he worked at the Flemish public broadcaster VRT, contributing to various projects on digitization, media asset management, and access to archives collections. Within FIAT/IFTA, the global association of media archives, he chaired the Preservation and Migration Commission (2016–2019), served as Secretary General (2017–2020), and held the position of President (2020–2024). A frequent speaker, conference curator, and guest lecturer, he regularly writes and reviews on audiovisual archiving topics. He also acts as a consultant for public administrators, audiovisual archives, and media organizations worldwide.
Access
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