French publishers and authors have initiated a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, alleging unauthorized use of their copyrighted works to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The plaintiffs include prominent organizations such as the National Publishing Union (Syndicat National de l'Édition, SNE), the National Union of Authors and Composers (Syndicat National des Auteurs et des Compositeurs, SNAC), and the Society of Men of Letters (Société des Gens de Lettres, SGDL). They accuse Meta of copyright infringement and economic "parasitism" for allegedly using their protected content without permission to develop generative AI capabilities for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
This legal action, filed in a Paris court, is the first of its kind in France against an AI giant. It reflects ongoing tensions between the creative industries and tech companies over the use of copyrighted material in AI training. The plaintiffs are demanding the removal of data directories created by Meta for AI training that incorporate their works.
This lawsuit aligns with similar actions in the United States, where Meta faces allegations of using copyrighted materials without authorization to train its AI models. For instance, in 2023, actress and author Sarah Silverman filed a lawsuit against Meta, and in 2024, novelist Christopher Farnsworth did the same.
The outcome of this case could significantly impact how AI models are trained using copyrighted materials, potentially influencing the balance between technological advancement and intellectual property rights. It also underscores the need for clear regulations governing the use of copyrighted content in AI development.