Archive — JP — japantimes
Authors hold London protest against Meta for 'stealing' work to train AI
Around 100 authors protested outside Meta's London headquarters, accusing the company of using copyrighted content from online library LibGen to train AI models. Chants like 'Meta, Meta, book thieves' highlighted their grievances against perceived theft of their work, with allegations linking CEO Mark Zuckerberg to these practices.
Key points
- 100 authors protested in London against Meta for using their works to train AI models.
- Chants and placards highlighted accusations of theft of intellectual property.
- Authors claim Meta used content from the online library LibGen, which has millions of copyrighted books.
- A U.S. court filing earlier this year implicated Zuckerberg in approving these practices.
Why it matters
- This protest reflects growing concerns over the ethical use of copyrighted materials for AI training, a major issue in the tech industry.
- The incident aligns with the increasing demand for regulatory frameworks around AI usage, especially in relation to intellectual property.
- The broader discourse around AI and copyright has escalated in 2025, prompting numerous instances of protests and legal challenges.
The protest against Meta showcases deepening tensions between authors and tech companies, foreshadowing potential legal and regulatory developments in AI and copyright by 2025.