Many authors, especially in Australia, express anger and frustration over their works being used to train Meta’s AI systems without their consent. Authors discovered their books were included in a pirated dataset from LibGen, a massive online archive that Meta allegedly used to train its AI models. This revelation has sparked outrage, notably as these authors never permitted their work to be used this way.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
In early 2025, authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Sarah Silverman, and a group of Australian writers, including Holden Sheppard and Tracey Spicer, learned that their publications had been used to train Meta’s AI without compensation. The AI development, overseen by Mark Zuckerberg and Meta’s team, allegedly used the LibGen dataset despite the dataset’s known origins from pirated content.
The authors were shocked when it was revealed that even some Australian former prime ministers’ books, such as those written by Malcolm Turnbull and Julia Gillard, were included. Holden Sheppard, author of the young adult novel Invisible Boys, expressed his anger, calling the situation “unethical and illegal.” He added that no financial compensation was offered for using their work, noting that Meta’s billions in profits should fairly compensate authors.
This issue highlights significant gaps in intellectual property rights as the world rapidly adopts artificial intelligence. While the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) protects against discrimination in specific contexts, no such protections exist for the AI industry—allowing big companies to exploit creators’ work without due recognition or compensation.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, an award-winning author and film critic, discovered eight books in the LibGen dataset. Like many other authors, she is frustrated by the ongoing use of their intellectual property without compensation or consent.
The Australian Society of Authors has stepped in, urging government action and lobbying for the introduction of AI-specific legislation that would require companies like Meta to adhere to existing copyright laws.
The authors are also calling for more transparency, and some have even suggested a class action in response to the increasing use of authors’ works in AI training. Sophie Cunningham, chair of the Australian Society of Authors, described the situation as an example of techno-capitalism, with writers being reduced to mere workers for large companies profiting from their intellectual labor.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The authors’ protests highlight a growing concern about the ethics and legality of using copyrighted materials to train AI systems. With no legal framework to govern this practice, writers advocate for legislative action. As AI continues to evolve, so must the laws governing its development and the protection of intellectual property. The future of AI in the creative industry will depend on how governments and corporations address these concerns.
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