AI & Piracy

The internet is filled with information, but not all of it is reliable. While recognizing unreliable sources in certain online areas is easy, assessing the accuracy of information can be challenging. Here are three frameworks to help determine the trustworthiness of online content:

5Ws of Source Evaluation

These questions are common in previous frameworks:

  • Who wrote it or published it?
  • What is the evidence?
  • When was it published?
  • Where does the information come from?
  • Why was it created?

CRAAP Test

  • Currency: Was it produced at an appropriate time for your inquiry?
  • Reliability: Can you identify where or who the information came from?
  • Authority: Does the writer or source have backgrounds supporting their claims?
  • Accuracy: Are there any facts you know that aren’t accurately represented? Are bold claims supported by evidence?
  • Purpose: Why is the information being published? Common reasons include:
    • Advertising revenue (if ads are present)
    • Building credibility for donations or purchases
    • Funded by tax dollars (government sources)

RADCAB

  • Relevancy: Does the source answer your question?
  • Appropriateness: Is it targeted at the right audience?
  • Detail: Does it provide sufficient detail or make unsupported generalizations?
  • Currency: Is it produced at an appropriate time for your question?
  • Authority: Are the writer and sources qualified to make their claims?
  • Bias: Is the author presenting a position, or reporting in a balanced way?

Taking Them for a Spin

Using the frameworks, test them out on the following topics. Use a search engine, not an LLM, to find content about these topics, and try a different framework on one source for each:

Copyright

  • What is copyright?
  • Who was it designed to protect?
  • What are some differences between Canadian and American copyright law?

2000s-Era Anti-Piracy Campaigns

  • What is the story of Napster and the Pirate Bay?
  • How did iTunes, Spotify, and Netflix affect media piracy?

Development of AI

  • Research the 2023 Hollywood writer's strike or the Midjourney lawsuit.
  • Watch a segment (24:00 – 27:00) on how AI models learn, presented by Jeremy Howard.

Assignment

Part 1: The Research Phase

Before we decide if AI is "stealing," we need to understand the history of piracy and how we judge if a source is telling us the truth.

  1. Framework Recommendations Don't get overwhelmed by the different frameworks! Use them like tools in a toolbox:

    • For a quick scan: Use the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) to see if a site is even worth your time.

    • For a deep dive: Use the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) on the one source you plan to use as your main evidence in your video.

  2. The Topics Research the following using a search engine (like Google or DuckDuckGo), and apply your chosen framework to one good source and one bad source for each:

    • Copyright & Napster: What happened when music went digital in the early 2000s? How does that relate to AI today?

    • The Hollywood Strike: Why were writers and actors in 2023 worried about AI using their likeness or their scripts?

    • Canadian vs. American Law: Is there a difference in how our neighbours to the south handle "Fair Use" compared to our "Fair Dealing" here in Ontario?

Part 2: The Influencer-Style Video

Now, you’re going to create a video giving your opinion on the ethics of AI. Instead of a boring slideshow, try to use Canva to pull off some "Influencer Moves."

  1. Choose Your "Influencer Move" Pick at least one of these styles to make your video pop:

    • The "React" Split-Screen: Use a split-screen layout. Put your face on one side and the website or artwork you are discussing on the other.

    • The "Green Screen" Effect: Use Canva’s Background Remover (under "Edit Video") to cut yourself out and place yourself right "inside" a news article or a digital gallery.

    • The "Point & Pop": Film yourself pointing to empty space. In Canva, add Text Bubbles or Stickers that "pop" into those spots using the "Animate" tool.

  2. Script Your "Two-Sided" Argument To show you've really thought this through, your script should follow this structure:

    1. The Hook: Introduce the debate. Is AI an artist or a pirate?
    2. Side A (The Creator): *"On one hand, an artist from Ontario might feel like their hard work is being taken without permission because..."**
    3. ***Side B (The Tech): *"On the other hand, a developer might argue that AI is just 'learning' from examples the same way a human student does..."
    4. ***Your Take**: Based on the sources you analyzed with the CRAAP or 5Ws test, what do you think is the fairest path forward?
  3. Export and Submit When you are finished in Canva, click Share > Download > MP4 to save your masterpiece. Upload both your analysis video and your "Is AI Stealing?" video to Google Classroom.

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

  • 📤
    Pre-Submission Self-Assessment Google Doc
  • 📤

    Strategy comparison/analysis video

  • 📤

    Is AI Stealing? video

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

  • 🎯

    Critically evaluate online sources for credibility, purpose, and potential bias

  • 🎯

    Create persuasive media using styles and techniques designed to influence an audience

  • 🎯

    Use revision strategies to ensure a clear, impactful message

Success Criteria

I can:

  • Analyze sources effectively using frameworks like CRAAP, RADCAB, or the 5Ws.

    Expectations Covered: A2.2, B2.2, C1.1, C1.2, C2.1
  • Create a video imitating an influencer with conventions and techniques suitable for the message.

    Expectations Covered: A2.4, A2.5, D2.5
  • Revise and polish work using feedback or AI for a high-quality product.

    Expectations Covered: D3.1

Rubric

Category Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Knowledge/Understanding
How well does the student demonstrate an understanding of copyright, piracy, and AI development through research and media analysis?
Demonstrates a thorough and insightful understanding of copyright history, Canadian vs. American law, and the technical development of AI. Demonstrates a clear understanding of copyright history, legal differences, and AI development. Demonstrates a basic understanding of copyright and AI, though some details or historical context may be missing. Demonstrates limited understanding of copyright, piracy, or how AI models are developed.
Thinking/Inquiring
How effectively does the student apply source-evaluation frameworks (CRAAP, 5Ws) to analyze and compare the credibility of online sources?
Applies evaluation frameworks with high critical thinking to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality sources with sophisticated reasoning. Applies evaluation frameworks effectively to distinguish between sources and provides clear reasoning for their choices. Applies evaluation frameworks with some effectiveness; reasoning for source credibility is provided but may be general. Applies evaluation frameworks with limited effectiveness; struggles to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources.
Application
How skillfully does the student use video production techniques (imitation of influencers, screencasting) to communicate their analysis and opinions?
Skillfully uses professional screencasting and stylistic elements from influencers to create a highly engaging and polished media product. Uses screencasting and stylistic elements effectively to create an organized and clear media product. Uses media techniques with some success, though the video may lack polish or consistent stylistic choices. Uses media techniques with limited success; the video is difficult to follow or lacks clear structure.
Communication
How clearly and persuasively does the student express their opinion on the ethics of AI and the effectiveness of evaluation strategies?
Communicates a highly persuasive and nuanced opinion with exceptional clarity; uses a voice and tone perfectly suited for the intended audience. Communicates a clear and well-supported opinion; uses an appropriate voice and tone for the audience. Communicates an opinion with some clarity; reasoning may be simple or the tone may be inconsistent. Communicates an opinion with limited clarity or support; the message is difficult to determine.
Knowledge/Understanding
Criteria: How well does the student demonstrate an understanding of copyright, piracy, and AI development through research and media analysis?
Level 4

Demonstrates a thorough and insightful understanding of copyright history, Canadian vs. American law, and the technical development of AI.

Level 3

Demonstrates a clear understanding of copyright history, legal differences, and AI development.

Level 2

Demonstrates a basic understanding of copyright and AI, though some details or historical context may be missing.

Level 1

Demonstrates limited understanding of copyright, piracy, or how AI models are developed.

Thinking/Inquiring
Criteria: How effectively does the student apply source-evaluation frameworks (CRAAP, 5Ws) to analyze and compare the credibility of online sources?
Level 4

Applies evaluation frameworks with high critical thinking to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality sources with sophisticated reasoning.

Level 3

Applies evaluation frameworks effectively to distinguish between sources and provides clear reasoning for their choices.

Level 2

Applies evaluation frameworks with some effectiveness; reasoning for source credibility is provided but may be general.

Level 1

Applies evaluation frameworks with limited effectiveness; struggles to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources.

Application
Criteria: How skillfully does the student use video production techniques (imitation of influencers, screencasting) to communicate their analysis and opinions?
Level 4

Skillfully uses professional screencasting and stylistic elements from influencers to create a highly engaging and polished media product.

Level 3

Uses screencasting and stylistic elements effectively to create an organized and clear media product.

Level 2

Uses media techniques with some success, though the video may lack polish or consistent stylistic choices.

Level 1

Uses media techniques with limited success; the video is difficult to follow or lacks clear structure.

Communication
Criteria: How clearly and persuasively does the student express their opinion on the ethics of AI and the effectiveness of evaluation strategies?
Level 4

Communicates a highly persuasive and nuanced opinion with exceptional clarity; uses a voice and tone perfectly suited for the intended audience.

Level 3

Communicates a clear and well-supported opinion; uses an appropriate voice and tone for the audience.

Level 2

Communicates an opinion with some clarity; reasoning may be simple or the tone may be inconsistent.

Level 1

Communicates an opinion with limited clarity or support; the message is difficult to determine.