Gerry Adams demands justice as Meta misuses his books for AI training

In the United Kingdom, Gerry Adams, the former leader of Sinn Féin, has publicly raised concerns regarding the unauthorized use of his literary works by Meta, the technology giant which owns Facebook and Instagram. Recently, Adams revealed that he had sought legal advice after asserting that Meta's artificial intelligence systems had used his books without obtaining the necessary permissions. He expressed his feelings in a statement, indicating that the issue is now with his solicitor as he aims to take appropriate action against the company. The situation surrounding Meta's alleged actions extends to a wider controversy where many authors have accused the tech company of similar copyright infringements. The Society of Editors recently organized a protest in London, highlighting the claim that millions of copyrighted books have been used by Meta to develop its AI technologies. This has raised significant concerns in the literary world regarding the ethics of AI development and the rights of authors whose works are integral to the training of these systems. Adams is among many authors, including well-known names such as Kate Mosse and Richard Osman, who have publicly defended their rights to their intellectual property. In an open letter, these high-profile authors called upon UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to bring Meta's management before parliament. Their aim is to ensure that proper copyright laws are upheld and that authors receive fair compensation for the use of their works. Richard Osman emphasized that the law is clear: permission must be sought before an author's work is used, and failure to do so constitutes a breach of copyright. The ramifications of this issue extend beyond just individual authors; it raises fundamental questions about the responsibility of tech companies in respecting intellectual property rights. Many authors believe that if companies like Meta are allowed to exploit their work without compensation, it sets a troubling precedent that could jeopardize the future of literary and artistic creation. This situation sparks a critical dialogue on the intersection of copyright law, technology, and the rights of content creators in the digital age. The ongoing protest and the vocal opposition from the literary community aim to challenge the current practices and hold corporations accountable for their actions in relation to intellectual property rights.