On Protecting Our Stories
- Kathryn Kettle
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Protect Our Stories: Join the Protest Against Meta’s Unauthorized Use of Authors’ Works
Dear Readers, Creators, Parents and Educators,
Our cherished stories and the future of storytelling are under threat.
What’s Happening?
Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) has been accused of using millions of pirated books to train their artificial intelligence systems without authors’ consent. This includes works from the “shadow library” LibGen, containing over 7.5 million books.
This exploitation comes at a time when UK authors are already facing financial challenges, with a median income of just £7,000 per year. Every penny counts to keep our culture of storytelling, literacy, and reading alive.
Why It Matters to Us
Stories shape our children’s imaginations, values, and understanding of the world. Supporting authors ensures a rich literary landscape for future generations.
How Can You Help?
1. Join the Protest:
Date & Time: Thursday, April 3rd, 1:30 PM
Location: Granary Square, King’s Cross, London
Details: Authors and supporters will gather to peacefully protest Meta’s actions. A letter will be hand-delivered to Meta’s London office detailing objections to their use of unlicensed works.
2. Amplify the Message on Social Media:
Use the hashtags: #MetaBookThieves, #DoTheWriteThing, and #MakeItFair to spread awareness.
Tag your local MP to draw political attention to the issue.
3. Support Authors:
Purchase books directly from authors or reputable bookstores.
Encourage schools to invite authors for talks and workshops, providing them with much-needed support.
The Society of Authors has coordinated an open letter that will be sent to Lisa Nandy demanding that Meta be held to account. You too can add your name - Petition · Protect authors’ livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training - United Kingdom · Change.org
Write to your MP about the issue of AI content theft. You can still use our Writers Write service to make your feelings known about the Government's approach to AI legislation.
4. Educate Your Children:
Discuss the importance of intellectual property and the value of creative work.
Encourage respect for authors’ rights and the ethical consumption of content.
Together, we can stand up for authors’ rights and ensure that our children continue to have access to diverse and enriching stories.
Let’s take action to preserve the integrity of our literary culture.
Thank you for your support
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