The Times publisher deploys AI legaltech support lawyers – and reporters
The publisher behind The Times and The Sun is bringing AI into the newsroom after investing in a legaltech tool that scans vast amounts of copy for libel and legal risks in minutes.
News UK has invested in ClearDraft, an AI-powered content-clearance platform founded by media lawyers Alex Wade and David Burgess in late 2025.
The model, labelled as ‘first of its kind’, scans content to identify legal risk patterns rather than create new content. It will provide risk analysis and feedback before publication, helping journalists spot legal issues quickly and freeing in-house lawyers to focus on more complex matters, including combating Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (Slapps).
Slapps refers to defamation cases and legal threats generally brought against journalists and campaigners as a form of intimidation by wealthy individuals.
One of the co-chief executives, Alex Wade, worked as a media lawyer for major nationals, including Rupert Murdoch’s The Times and The Sunday Times, for nearly 30 years before co-founding ClearDraft with David Burgess, co-chief executive, previously head of production clearance for EMEA at Netflix.
Burgess said: “We’ve seen the growing burdens facing the media industry as it navigates tight deadlines with limited legal resources and heightened litigation risk. We’ve built an AI Product that integrates seamlessly into editorial systems to handle the sort of risk flagging that often bogs down compliance workflows.”
Tool does 15 hours of a lawyer’s work in minutes
“I watched ClearDraft review a 100,000-word book in minutes, flagging the same risks that would take a lawyer at least 15 hours to identify, so the potential savings in time and cost are truly extraordinary. This platform will materially change how legal clearance is handled across the industry,” he added.
Commenting on the deal, Angus McBride, general counsel of News UK, said: “Investing in ClearDraft is a natural step for News UK as we continue to lead the way in responsible, fearless journalism and in harnessing new technology.”
“ClearDraft will empower our journalists to break important stories faster and with greater confidence, while our legal teams can focus on the most complex and sensitive cases. It’s a win for journalism and a win for our readers,” he added.
Back in 2024, The Times and The Sun publisher signed a multi-year deal with AI developer OpenAI, allowing the tech company to use its content.