The open letter in response to Meta’s use of pirated material to train its AI (signatures) is now closed, after receiving around 450 signatures.
The Society of Authors has since released a petition addressed to The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, demanding that Meta is held to account by the UK government following allegations in the U.S. that authors’ works have been used without permission or remuneration to train its AI model. Anyone can sign the petition to show their support of this cause.
This petition will be delivered by the Society of Authors on Thursday 3rd April. They’ll be releasing graphics to share on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Threads) and flood social media with our objections. Full information here.
Affected creators can write to Meta using this template and sign the statement on AI training, already signed by over 47,000 creators, here. You can also write to your MP using my template, or this one by the Creative Rights in AI Coalition.
Huge thanks to everyone who signed and supported the original open letter. The intention was to register our concerns and bring creative voices to the forefront. Organisations such as The Society of Authors are best placed to fight for our rights, and to hold AI companies and the government to account. Please show your support by signing the petition and continuing to express your outrage on social media.
Further reading:
The Atlantic: The Unbelievable Scale of AI’s Pirated-Books Problem
The Bookseller: Society of Authors condemns ‘appalling’ use of pirated books in AI training
The Bookseller: Society of Authors writes to AI firms demanding ‘appropriate remuneration’ and consent for authors
The Bookseller: Cambridge University Press and Romantic Novelists’ Association slam Meta’s use of pirated books
The Bookseller: What can we do about Meta?
BookBrunch: How Meta fell out with authors around the globe
Society of Authors: UK creative industries launch copyright fightback against global tech firms’ AI models
Creative Rights in AI Coalition: Statement on creative rights in AI
VIKKI PATIS 
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