A significant development in the literary world unfolded recently as authors rallied in London, voicing their concerns over the alleged misuse of their works by the tech giant Meta. Approximately 100 writers protested outside Meta's headquarters, claiming the company has "stolen" their content to train its Artificial Intelligence models. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Meta, Meta, book thieves" while others brandished placards with messages including "I'd write a sign but you'd steal it" and "Get the Zuck off our books," a reference to Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.
The controversy has escalated after a recent US court filing alleged that Meta mined the online library "LibGen," which reportedly provides access to over 7.5 million copyrighted works, to enhance its AI systems. This library has gained notoriety among authors due to its vast collection of literary materials, raising serious ethical and legal questions about intellectual property rights in the context of AI development. As noted by a spokesperson for Meta, “we respect third-party intellectual property rights and believe our use of information to train AI models is consistent with existing law,” suggesting that the company maintains its actions fall within legal boundaries.
Among the protesting authors was AJ West, known for his book "The Spirit Engineer." He expressed deep frustration upon discovering his work listed on the database related to LibGen. “To have my work that took years to write, and that I poured my heart and soul into, used to make tech billionaires even more money, without my permission, is so disgusting,” West remarked, highlighting the sentiment shared by many writers. His efforts to deliver a letter to Meta, which was signed by prominent authors such as Kate Mosse and Richard Osman, were thwarted by locked doors at the company’s front desk, a situation he described as emblematic of the widespread grievances felt by writers.
The protest also featured calls for government intervention, with West criticising UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy for remaining silent amid what he termed as "the biggest attack on British copyright in history." Another participant, author and television writer Gail Renard, accentuated the gravity of the situation, stating that if a tangible item like a diamond ring could trigger consequences for theft, then surely similar repercussions should apply to intellectual property.
Sophie Parkin, an artist and author, underscored the potential long-term implications of unchecked AI usage on the literary landscape. “This situation is a life-changer for everybody because what's the point of going on writing?” she questioned, underscoring a pervasive anxiety among creatives about the future of their craft in the age of AI. Parkin pointed to the fact that authors are witnessing their words commodified without recognition or compensation.
This protest is part of a growing backlash against major corporations that develop AI platforms that rely on extensive datasets for training, often sourced from copyrighted materials without adequate consent. Many key players in the creative fields are increasingly concerned about the impact of such practices as they challenge the very foundation of authorship and compensation for creative works. The discourse surrounding AI and copyright continues to evolve, with the argument of "fair use," primarily originating from US law, being tested both in American and international courts. As the tension between technology and the creative industries escalates, the future of authorship in the digital age remains uncertain.
Source: Noah Wire Services