Meta Seeks Dismissal in AI Training Porn Lawsuit
Meta Denies Using Adult Content for AI Training in Lawsuit Defense
Meta Platforms Inc. has filed a motion in U.S. District Court seeking dismissal of a lawsuit alleging the company illegally downloaded pornographic content for artificial intelligence training purposes. The case, brought by Strike3 Holdings, accuses Meta of systematically downloading 2,400 adult films through BitTorrent seeding operations.
The Allegations
Strike3 Holdings, an adult content copyright holder, claims Meta operated a "secret network" of approximately 2,500 hidden IP addresses to download protected material between 2018-2022. The plaintiff seeks damages exceeding $350 million, arguing these downloads were used to train Meta's AI systems without proper licensing or compensation.
"This represents one of the most egregious cases of corporate copyright infringement we've encountered," stated Strike3's legal team in court filings. "The scale and systematic nature suggest institutional knowledge rather than rogue employee behavior."
Meta's Defense Strategy
In its 24-page dismissal motion, Meta presents multiple counterarguments:
- Temporal Disconnect: The alleged downloads occurred in 2018, while Meta's major AI initiatives began around 2022 - making any connection speculative at best.
- Personal Use Claim: Download activities appeared limited (approximately 22 instances annually) and consistent with individual rather than corporate behavior.
- Policy Prohibition: Meta highlights its terms of service explicitly forbid generating adult content, undermining the alleged purpose.
- Attribution Challenges: The company notes Strike3 cannot reliably connect downloads to Meta employees versus contractors or visitors using company networks.
"Plaintiffs ask the Court to accept an implausible conspiracy theory unsupported by facts," Meta's attorneys wrote. "They provide no evidence that any downloaded content was used for AI training or that Meta directed such use."
Technical and Legal Complexities
The case highlights emerging challenges in:
- AI training data sourcing
- Corporate network monitoring responsibilities
- Copyright law application to machine learning systems
Legal experts note the difficulty in proving direct corporate knowledge versus individual employee actions. "This case may hinge on whether plaintiffs can demonstrate institutional awareness versus isolated incidents," said technology law professor Rachel Bender.
What Comes Next
The court is expected to rule on Meta's dismissal motion within 60 days. If the case proceeds, discovery could reveal internal communications about data collection practices - potentially setting important precedents for AI development standards.
Key Points:
- ⚖️ Meta seeks dismissal of $350M lawsuit over alleged illegal adult content downloads
- 🎥 Strike3 claims 2,400 films downloaded via hidden IP network for AI training
- 🕒 Meta counters downloads predated AI projects by four years
- 🔍 No evidence shown that downloads were company-directed or AI-related
- 📜 Case tests boundaries of corporate liability for employee/contractor online activities