French publishers and authors have announced legal action against Meta, alleging that the social media
giant used their works without permission to train its artificial intelligence model.

On Wednesday, three trade groups stated that they were suing Meta in a Paris court, accusing the company of the “massive use of copyrighted works without authorisation” to train its generative AI model.

The National Publishing Union, representing book publishers, has highlighted that "numerous works" from its members are appearing in Meta’s data pool, according to the group’s president, Vincent Montagne, in a joint statement.

Meta has not responded to a request for comment. The company has introduced generative AI-powered chatbot assistants for users on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Montagne accused Meta of engaging in “noncompliance with copyright and parasitism.”

Another trade group, the National Union of Authors and Composers, which represents 700 writers, playwrights, and composers, stated that the lawsuit is necessary to protect its members from “AI that plunders their works and cultural heritage to train itself.”

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The union is also concerned about AI generating “fake books” that compete with real publications, said the group’s president, François Peyrony.

The third organisation involved in the lawsuit, the Société des Gens de Lettres, represents authors. Together, they demand the “complete removal” of data directories Meta created without authorisation to train its AI model.

Under the European Union’s comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Act, generative AI systems must comply with the 27-nation bloc’s copyright regulations and be transparent about the material used for training.

This case is the latest example of the ongoing conflict between the creative and publishing industries and technology firms over data and copyright.

Last month, British musicians released a silent album in protest against proposed changes to the U.K. government’s artificial intelligence laws, which artists fear could undermine their creative control.

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Meanwhile, media and technology company Thomson Reuters recently won a legal dispute against a now-defunct legal research firm over fair use in AI-related copyright cases. Other cases, involving visual artists, news organisations, and others, continue to progress through U.S. courts.