Stolen Stories, Rising Voices: What Authors Must Know About Meta’s AI Book Scraping Scandal

In a startling revelation shaking the literary world, Meta and other major AI companies are now under fire for scraping over 7.5 million pirated books—allegedly used to train their AI systems without permission or payment. The Atlantic has released a new search tool that allows authors to check if their books were part of this massive unauthorized dataset, pulled from the notorious pirate site LibGen. The rest of the article is curiously behind a paywall.

This comes on the heels of last year’s Books3 dataset exposé, but the new list is even more alarming in size and scope, casting a long shadow over the future of authorship in the digital age.

Piracy, AI, and the Profit Pipeline

LibGen, a known illegal repository of pirated books, has long been a thorn in the side of authors and publishers. Despite successful takedowns of other sites like Z-Library and Kiss Library—many driven by the Authors Guild—LibGen persists by operating from Russia and Ukraine, where U.S. court rulings hold little sway. The site frequently shifts domains, keeping one step ahead of enforcement efforts.

What’s most troubling, however, is that Meta and other AI developers knowingly tapped into these illegal libraries. Why? Because high-quality books offer what AI craves: long-form narrative, expressive voice, and well-honed style. Instead of compensating authors like they would developers or power companies, these tech giants chose theft.

“They needed quality training material—and they stole it from us,” one Authors Guild spokesperson said.

Legal Pushback: Class Action Lawsuits in Motion

Authors whose books appear in this dataset are already part of the Kadrey v. Meta class action lawsuit filed in Northern California. No action is required to be included—if your book was used, you’re automatically covered. The case is currently focused on determining whether Meta violated copyright laws, with a decision expected by summer 2025.

And it’s not just Meta under fire. OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic are also facing lawsuits. The Authors Guild is a lead plaintiff in a related suit against OpenAI, joined by heavyweights like John Grisham, George R.R. Martin, Jodi Picoult, and David Baldacci, representing all U.S. authors whose works have been used in AI training.

How Authors Can Protect Their Work Now

This may feel like a David vs. Goliath moment—but authors are not powerless. Here’s how you can take control and protect your rights:

  • Send a Formal Notice: If your book was found in the LibGen dataset, send a letter to Meta and other AI companies stating they do not have the right to use your content. The Authors Guild provides a template you can use.
  • Join the Authors Guild: Support the collective fight by joining the Authors Guild, which has been instrumental in leading legal and legislative action against AI misuse. Members also receive guidance to safeguard future contracts and publishing rights from AI exploitation.
  • Protect Your Work: Add a “NO AI TRAINING” statement on the copyright page of your books. Update your website’s robots.txt file to block AI bots from scraping your online content. The Authors Guild offers step-by-step resources to help.
  • Get Human Authored Certification: Show your readers your work is truly yours. The Guild’s Human Authored certification is a visible badge of authenticity in a world flooded with AI-generated content.
  • Stay Informed: Sign up for the Guild’s free biweekly newsletter to stay on top of new developments in legislation, litigation, and AI policy. The landscape is evolving rapidly, and awareness is key to staying protected.
Your Words Matter—And So Does Your Voice

The idea that your work could be quietly ingested into a machine learning system—without permission or pay—is outrageous. But authors are standing up, speaking out, and fighting back. The Authors Guild is leading the charge, but the movement is powered by your voice, your story, and your support. This isn’t just about copyright—it’s about protecting the very future of human storytelling.

If your book was used without permission, don’t stay silent. Take action. Join the fight. And remember: your words have value, and so do you.

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