The Society of Authors (SoA), the UK’s leading trade union for writers, is staging a protest at Meta’s London headquarters following allegations that the company used millions of pirated books to train its Llama 3 artificial intelligence (AI) model. This protest, taking place at King’s Cross, London, is being led by notable authors such as Kate Mosse, Tracy Chevalier, and Daljit Nagra, alongside other SoA members.
The allegations stem from recent US court documents, which claim that Meta sourced training data from Library Genesis (LibGen), a well-known online repository of pirated books and academic papers. This unauthorized usage of copyrighted content has sparked outrage within the publishing and writing community, with authors branding Meta as #MetaBookThieves and demanding urgent action from the UK government.
Background of the Controversy: AI Training and Pirated Content
The controversy erupted after the Atlantic published a searchable database containing over 7.5 million books and 81 million research papers, reportedly used for training various AI models. Among them, Meta’s Llama 3 is alleged to have been trained using unauthorized book datasets, violating copyright laws and intellectual property rights.
Library Genesis (LibGen) has long been a source of illegally distributed books, including fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, poetry, and translations. Despite being blocked or restricted in several countries, it continues to operate as an underground platform for free book downloads. The fact that Meta allegedly accessed this repository to enhance its AI model has enraged authors and publishers alike.
SoA CEO Anna Ganley condemned the corporate exploitation of writers’ works, stating:
“The fact that these online libraries of pirated books continue to exist is bad enough, but when global companies use them to unlawfully access and exploit authors’ copyright-protected works – it is a double blow for authors.”
Also Read: Chinese AI Farming Bot Kwoo Wins Global Innovation Award
Authors’ Reactions and the Demand for Justice
The protest, organized by author AJ West, has drawn sharp criticism from the literary community. West, whose works were reportedly found on LibGen, expressed his frustration:
“To have my beautiful books ripped off like this without my permission and without a penny of compensation, then fed to the AI monster, feels like I’ve been mugged.”
Many authors believe that Meta’s actions constitute large-scale theft, as the company did not seek consent from the creators or offer compensation for their work. SoA member Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, also known as crime writer Sam Blake, stated:
“Meta has stolen books so that its AI can reproduce creative content, potentially putting these same authors out of business. If Meta had broken into our houses and stolen our laptops, we’d call the police – they can’t help us, so we’re calling on the government to act.”
Renowned novelist Kate Mosse compared the situation to a David and Goliath battle, emphasizing the importance of copyright protection in creative industries:
“Copyright exists, the terms and licensing provisions are robust, the law is clear. This is theft on a large scale, and it must stop.”
The Publishing Industry Stands in Support
The publishing industry has also voiced its support for authors in this fight against AI-driven copyright violations.
Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House UK, backed the protest, stating:
“At Penguin Random House UK, we are a major investor in human creativity, and our investment – together with our authors’ – rests on a basic principle: that as a society, we value creative work and have mechanisms to reward it.”
Weldon further emphasized the need for legal enforcement to prevent AI companies from engaging in unauthorized use of copyrighted content:
“We firmly believe that the unauthorized ingestion of copyrighted content to train generative AI models is a copyright infringement, and we share the deep frustration and concern of our authors.”
Other major publishing organizations, including Cambridge University Press and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, have also condemned Meta’s actions, with French publishers reportedly preparing a lawsuit against the tech giant.
Also Read: Agentic AI is Transforming Telecom with Automation and Efficiency
Government Involvement: Calls for Legislative Action
The SoA has formally requested an urgent meeting with Lisa Nandy, the UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, urging the government to take action against Meta. The organization is also delivering an open letter to Meta’s London office, demanding immediate answers and accountability.
The authors’ demands include:
- Legal recognition that AI training on copyrighted content without permission is theft.
- Stronger enforcement of UK copyright laws to protect intellectual property.
- Mandatory licensing agreements for AI companies using copyrighted materials.
- Financial compensation for affected authors.
- A transparent declaration from Meta on the data sources used for AI training.
The protest serves as a public demonstration of resistance against corporate misuse of creative works and aims to pressure policymakers into taking a stand against AI-driven copyright infringement.
Details of the Protest at Meta’s London HQ
The peaceful demonstration is set to take place at Meta’s London offices (11-22 Canal Reach, King’s Cross, London, N1C 4BE) on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Protest attendees will gather at Granary Square, King’s Cross at 1:00 PM, before marching to the Meta headquarters at 1:30 PM.
For further details, participants are encouraged to contact Teddy McDonald, the event’s press coordinator.
The ongoing dispute underscores a critical debate on the ethical use of copyrighted content in AI development, with the literary community standing united against corporate exploitation.
FAQs
1. Why is the Society of Authors protesting against Meta?
The protest is in response to Meta’s alleged use of pirated books from Library Genesis to train its Llama 3 AI model without authors’ consent.
2. What is Library Genesis (LibGen)?
Library Genesis is a shadow library that provides free access to millions of pirated books and research papers, violating copyright laws.
3. How did the allegations against Meta come to light?
The controversy arose after US court documents revealed Meta’s suspected use of LibGen datasets for AI training, further investigated by the Atlantic.
4. What do authors want from Meta?
Authors demand compensation, legal accountability, and assurance that their copyrighted works will not be used without permission in AI training.
5. What role does the UK government play in this issue?
The SoA has requested an urgent meeting with the UK government to discuss stricter copyright protections for authors.
6. How is the publishing industry responding?
Major publishers, including Penguin Random House UK, Cambridge University Press, and French publishing organizations, support the protest and are considering legal action.
7. Is AI training with copyrighted content illegal?
Using copyrighted content without permission to train AI models constitutes copyright infringement under UK and international law.
8. How can authors protect their works from AI training?
Authors can advocate for stronger legal protections, join trade organizations, and demand licensing agreements for AI companies.
9. Where is the protest taking place?
The protest is being held at Meta’s London headquarters, 11-22 Canal Reach, King’s Cross, London, N1C 4BE.
10. What happens next?
The SoA and authors will continue to press for legal action, demanding Meta cease unauthorized AI training on copyrighted materials.