This week, Meta has formally requested a US district court to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that the company engaged in illegal torrenting of adult content to develop its AI models. The lawsuit, filed by Strike 3 Holdings, accuses Meta of secretly downloading and storing copyrighted adult films on its servers, potentially to train an undisclosed adult-oriented AI system.

The controversy emerged after Strike 3 discovered unauthorized downloads of its movies originating from Meta’s corporate IP addresses. Additional claims suggest that Meta employed a sophisticated “stealth network” consisting of approximately 2,500 hidden IP addresses to conceal these activities. Strike 3 contends that these actions could have resulted in damages exceeding $350 million, highlighting the seriousness of the alleged copyright infringement.

In its motion to dismiss, Meta argued that the lawsuit is based on mere speculation and lacks concrete evidence. The company emphasized that Strike 3 has a reputation for filing aggressive copyright claims, often labeled as “copyright trolls,” which frequently pursue excessive damages. Meta maintained that there is no proof indicating that the company intentionally directed or even was aware of the illegal downloads of approximately 2,400 adult films owned by Strike 3.

Meta also clarified that all downloads, which the lawsuit claims were for AI training purposes, were conducted for “personal use,” asserting no malicious intent or copyright infringement. The company called for the complete dismissal of all copyright claims against it, asserting that the allegations are unfounded and based on assumptions rather than facts.

This legal dispute highlights ongoing concerns about AI development and the potential misuse of copyrighted material during the training process. As AI companies navigate complex copyright laws, the outcome of this case could set important precedents for how data collection and training practices are regulated in the future.

Ethan Cole

I'm Ethan Cole, a tech journalist with a passion for uncovering the stories behind innovation. I write about emerging technologies, startups, and the digital trends shaping our future. Read me on x.com