Meta ordered to identify who approved shadow library downloads for AI training
Meta tries to scapegoat staff who downloaded torrents to spare execs
- Who
- Judge Hixon
- What
- ordered Meta to answer questions about who made or approved torrenting decisions for AI training
What happened
Hixon rejected Meta’s attempts to narrow its answers about who made, authorized, or approved decisions to obtain or download shadow libraries. Meta argued that early dataset acquisition for Llama 1 and 2 involved informal processes and collaborative discussions without a single decision-maker. Hixon said the requests covered informal decisions and all decision makers, and also required answers about pirated works not used for AI training.
The story so far
Judge Hixon ordered Meta to provide fuller answers identifying everyone who made, authorized, or approved decisions to obtain or download shadow libraries, rejecting the company’s attempts to narrow its responses. Meta argued that early dataset acquisition for Llama 1 and 2 involved informal processes and collaborative discussions without a single decision-maker. Hixon said the requests covered informal decisions and all decision-makers. The judge also required Meta to answer questions about pirated works that were not used for AI training.
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