Meta accused of covertly using pirated books to train AI models
Meta has been accused of knowingly using copyrighted materials from online piracy sites to train its AI models, specifically LLaMA, prompting an outcry about the company's leadership, ethics, and practices. What happened Meta is accused of knowingly using pirated books from LibGen , Z-Library and Anna's Archive. All three are notorious for hosting millions of unauthorised works. The lawsuit, filed by a group of authors including Richard Kadrey and Sarah Silverman, claims that Meta's actions constitute blatant copyright infringement and computer fraud. Evidence presented in court filings indicates that Meta employees discussed the ethical implications of using LibGen and removed copyright metadata from downloaded materials to obscure the dataset's origins. Why it happened The allegations stem from Meta's desire to enhance its AI capabilities by using a vast array of books and other texts available through LibGen. Meta internal communications revealed that while some executives recognised LibGen as a "pirated" source, they proceeded with its use, indicating a conscious decision to prioritise data acquisition over legal compliance. It also became apparent that Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally approved the decision to use the LibGen dataset to train the company's LLaMA AI models. What it means The case has i mplications beyond Meta; a ruling against the company could set a significant legal precedent for how copyrighted materials are used in the development of AI systems . I f found liable, Meta and others may face stricter regulations and increased scrutiny of their data sourcing practices. Th e lawsuit is seen to underscore the urgent need for clearer regulatory frameworks that address the intersection of AI technology and copyright law .
- Date it happened
- 2023-01-01
- Product, system or model
- Llama
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