Meta‘s use of pirated content from torrent sites to train its Llama large language model has been revealed through court documents, leading to copyright litigation.
Key developments: Court documents in the “Kadrey et al. v. Meta Platforms” case have exposed internal communications suggesting Meta’s use of unauthorized content for AI training.
- Novelists Richard Kadrey and Christopher Golden filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleging Meta used their copyrighted works without permission
- Judge Vince Chhabria ordered the release of unredacted documents that were previously hidden from public view
- Internal communications show Meta employees expressing concerns about downloading torrented content on corporate laptops
- Evidence indicates CEO Mark Zuckerberg may have authorized the use of pirated materials
Sources of unauthorized content: Meta allegedly accessed pirated materials from multiple unauthorized digital libraries to train its AI systems.
- LibGen, a Russia-based digital library established in 2008, was identified as one primary source of pirated content
- The platform contains unauthorized copies of books, magazines, and academic articles
- Additional “shadow libraries” were also reportedly used in the training process
- LibGen has faced multiple copyright lawsuits since its creation, though its operators remain unknown
Meta’s legal defense: The company has presented arguments attempting to justify its use of copyrighted materials.
- Meta claims its use of public materials falls under “fair use” doctrine
- The company argues it is using text solely for statistical language modeling and generating original content
- Fair use determinations are typically made on a case-by-case basis in U.S. copyright law
Industry context: Similar allegations have emerged against other tech companies, though some have taken different approaches to AI training.
- Apple faced scrutiny over its OpenELM model using YouTube video subtitles
- Apple clarified that OpenELM was purely for research and not used in consumer products
- Apple Intelligence uses licensed data and public content collected through web crawlers
- Major publishers like The New York Times and The Atlantic have opted out of sharing content with Apple Intelligence
Looking ahead: This lawsuit could set important precedents for AI training practices and copyright law, potentially forcing tech companies to establish more transparent and legally compliant data sourcing methods for AI development.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...