Judge Orders Zuckerberg’s Deposition in AI Copyright Case
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be deposed in connection with a lawsuit brought by a group of authors, including comedian Sarah Silverman, who accuse the tech giant of copyright infringement for using their works to train its artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The lawsuit, which includes other high-profile authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, alleges that Meta used their books without permission or compensation.
Judge Denies Meta’s Bid to Block Deposition
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Thomas Hixson rejected Meta’s attempt to prevent Zuckerberg’s deposition. Meta argued that Zuckerberg does not have unique knowledge of the company’s AI operations and that information could be gathered from other employees. However, Judge Hixson concluded that there was enough evidence showing Zuckerberg’s direct involvement in Meta’s AI initiatives and ruled that his testimony was necessary.
“There is sufficient evidence to show he is the principal decision maker for Meta’s AI platforms,” Judge Hixson wrote in the ruling.
Copyright Infringement Allegations Against Meta
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in California last year, accuses Meta of illegally downloading and using digital copies of books authored by the plaintiffs to train its AI systems without their consent. The case is part of a broader legal effort by authors to challenge how AI companies are developing their platforms by utilizing copyrighted works.
Meta has yet to respond publicly to the latest court decision regarding Zuckerberg’s deposition.
Prominent Attorney Joins the Case
This week, attorney David Boies, known for his role in representing Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election dispute, joined the lawsuit on behalf of Silverman and the other plaintiffs. Boies is expected to lead the authors’ legal team in their case against Meta, strengthening the high-profile nature of the case.
