Reddit Files Lawsuit Against Perplexity AI Over Alleged Illegal Data Scraping

According to the Associated Press, social media platform Reddit has filed a federal lawsuit in New York against artificial intelligence company Perplexity AI and three affiliated entities. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of engaging in "industrial-scale illegal scraping" to copy millions of Reddit user comments without permission for commercial purposes.

Defendants Named in the Lawsuit

The lawsuit names several defendants:

• Perplexity AI, based in San Francisco
• Lithuanian data scraping company Oxylabs UAB
• Suspected "former Russian botnet" domain AWMProxy
• US-based search service provider SerpApi

Reddit alleges these companies engaged in unfair competition, copyright infringement, and unjust enrichment by bypassing protective mechanisms to scrape Reddit content from Google search results. The company further claims proxy tools were used to conceal identities during these activities.

Reddit's Stance on the Allegations

Ben Lee, Reddit's Chief Legal Officer, likened the defendants' actions to "potential bank robbers" breaking into an "armored truck" to steal data. He emphasized that Reddit has become a primary target due to its possession of what he called "the largest and most active collection of human conversations."

Lee further stated that Perplexity chose to purchase allegedly stolen data rather than obtaining authorization through legal means.

Responses from Defendants

Perplexity AI responded that it had not yet received the lawsuit but stated it would "actively defend the public's right to fair access to knowledge." The company emphasized its commitment to responsible AI use.

SerpApi and Oxylabs both denied the allegations, with Oxylabs asserting that "public data should not be monopolized or sold at high prices." AWMProxy has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The case highlights growing tensions between content platforms and AI companies over data usage rights as artificial intelligence systems increasingly rely on large datasets for training and operation.

Key Points:

• Reddit alleges Perplexity AI and affiliates illegally scraped millions of user comments
• Lawsuit names four defendants across multiple countries
• Defendants accused of bypassing protections and hiding identities during scraping activities
• Perplexity maintains commitment to responsible AI use despite allegations
• Case underscores broader debate about data rights in AI development