Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Defends Controversial Dataset Use in AI Lawsuit
Newly disclosed excerpts from a deposition by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg provide insights into his defense of using copyrighted materials in AI training datasets. These details, revealed in the ongoing Kadrey v. Meta copyright case, highlight the challenges surrounding fair use and intellectual property in artificial intelligence development.
Case Background
The lawsuit is one of several targeting AI companies for training their models on copyrighted content without explicit authorization. Plaintiffs, including bestselling authors Sarah Silverman and Ta-Nehisi Coates, claim such practices violate their intellectual property rights. Defendants, such as Meta, argue that training AI on this material falls under the principle of “fair use.”
At the center of the case is Meta’s alleged use of Library Genesis (LibGen), a repository of pirated e-books, to train its Llama AI models. LibGen is widely known for hosting copyrighted works from major publishers and has faced numerous lawsuits and shutdown orders for copyright infringement.
Mark Zuckerberg during a public appearance (Image: Telediario)
Zuckerberg’s Statements
In his deposition, Zuckerberg compared the use of datasets containing copyrighted materials to how YouTube handles pirated content, stating:
“YouTube... may end up hosting some stuff that people pirate... but the vast majority... is kind of good, and they have the license to do [so].”
While acknowledging the need for caution, Zuckerberg argued against outright bans on potentially infringing datasets:
“Would I want to have a policy against people using YouTube because some of the content may be copyrighted? No.”
Allegations Against Meta
Recent updates to the lawsuit introduce new accusations against Meta, including the use of pirated content from LibGen and Z-Library, as well as efforts to obscure this usage. Meta allegedly relied on LibGen to train its Llama models, including its upcoming Llama 4, despite internal concerns over legal risks.
Industry Implications
This lawsuit underscores the growing tension between AI innovation and intellectual property protection. AI developers argue that broad access to data is critical for technological progress, while content creators emphasize the need to safeguard their rights and revenue. The outcome of Kadrey v. Meta could have far-reaching consequences for the AI industry.
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