A growing number of British authors are speaking out against Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook and Instagram, after discovering their books were allegedly used without permission to train artificial intelligence models. The controversy stems from the use of a “shadow library” called LibGen, a website that hosts millions of pirated books and articles.
The Accusations Against Meta
Meta is currently facing a lawsuit in the US, led by comedian and author Sarah Silverman, alongside other writers. They claim that Meta used their copyrighted books to train its AI software, Llama 3, without consent or compensation. Court documents suggest that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was aware of the use of LibGen’s data, despite concerns raised internally.
Meta, however, argues that it did not violate copyright laws, claiming its use of the materials falls under “fair use.” The company insists that its AI model does not replicate authors’ work but rather learns patterns from vast datasets.
Authors React with Outrage
Many British writers have been left feeling “absolutely sick” after learning their books were included in the dataset. Rowan Coleman, a novelist with around 40 published books, expressed her frustration:
“It’s every single book I have ever written. Like most writers, I struggle to pay the bills. And there are tech billionaires profiting from my work—how can that be right?”
Romcom author Hannah Doyle echoed similar concerns, calling the situation a “David and Goliath” battle between authors and tech giants. She pointed out that most writers earn far less than people assume, with the average annual income for UK authors being just £7,000.
“This isn’t right because it’s theft, ultimately. They’re using our work to improve their AI, and we have no say in it.”
The Wider Impact on Creativity
Beyond the issue of financial loss, authors fear the long-term impact on the publishing industry. With AI-generated content on the rise, some worry about the devaluation of human creativity.
Author Damian Barr warned that AI-generated stories could flood the market with lower-quality content, replacing the thoughtful and carefully crafted work of real writers.
TV presenter and best-selling author Richard Osman joined the debate, stating on social media:
“Copyright law is not complicated. If you want to use an author’s work, you need to ask for permission. If you use it without permission, you’re breaking the law. It’s that simple.”
The Fight for Copyright Protection
The Society of Authors (SoA) has condemned Meta’s actions and is urging the UK government to strengthen copyright protections for writers. Current proposals suggest allowing AI companies to use copyrighted materials without prior approval, requiring authors to actively opt out. Many creatives argue this approach leaves them vulnerable to exploitation.
The legal battle against Meta is part of a larger movement, with similar lawsuits filed against AI companies like OpenAI.
For now, authors are left waiting for legal clarity, but one thing is certain—the fight for creative rights in the age of AI is far from over.
