French publishers and authors have decided to pursue legal action against Meta, claiming that the social media giant has been using their copyrighted works without permission to train its artificial intelligence models. The lawsuit, initiated by three trade groups, has been filed in a Paris court. These groups argue that Meta engaged in widespread unauthorized usage of copyrighted materials to develop its generative AI systems.
The National Publishing Union, representing various book publishers, has pointed out that several works from their members are appearing in Meta’s data pool. Vincent Montagne, the president of the group, emphasized this issue in a joint statement. Meanwhile, Meta has yet to comment on the allegations. Meta has introduced generative AI-assisted chatbot features for users of its Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms.
Montagne has accused Meta of disregarding copyright laws and exploiting the creative efforts of others. Another group, the National Union of Authors and Composers, representing 700 individuals including writers and playwrights, stated that the lawsuit is crucial to protect their members from AI systems that exploit their cultural and creative works without consent. The president of the union, Francois Peyrony, expressed concerns about AI generating ‘fake books’ that compete with genuine literary works.
The third organization involved in this legal action is the Societe des Gens de Lettres, which advocates for authors. These groups are collectively seeking the elimination of data directories that Meta allegedly created without authorization, to train its AI models. According to the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, generative AI systems must adhere to the copyright laws of the 27-nation bloc and be transparent about the training materials they use.
This case highlights the ongoing tension between the creative and publishing sectors and technology companies regarding data use and copyright. Recently, British musicians released a silent album in protest against the UK government’s proposed changes to AI laws, fearing a loss of creative control. Additionally, media company Thomson Reuters secured a victory in a legal dispute related to AI and fair use, while other cases involving visual artists and news organizations continue to progress through the US courts.
