Reddit Files Lawsuit After AI Company Uses Data Without Consent

Artificial intelligence has gained a lot of ground in recent years. All sorts of companies are looking to take advantage of the AI trend. As a result, many are looking for ways to use consumer data to cheaply train AI models. This is causing harm to popular social media sites such as Reddit.

Reddit has filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, accusing the company of breaching its terms of service and engaging in “unlawful and unfair business practices” by using Reddit’s platform and data without permission.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in San Francisco, claims Anthropic used Reddit’s user-generated content to train its AI models without obtaining consent. Reddit argues this unauthorized commercial use has caused harm to the company.

Reddit is a social media platform that uses a website based on a forum that allows users to share content and engage in discussions within topic-based communities called subreddits. Users submit content like links, text posts, images, and videos, which are then voted up or down by other users. The platform is known for its diverse range of communities and discussion as well as the ability for users to curate content.

The complaint portrays Anthropic as a late-blooming AI firm that markets itself as a principled leader in the industry but, according to Reddit, “is anything but.” The suit claims Anthropic ignores Reddit’s rules and user rights, taking content “with impunity” despite marketing itself as ethically minded. Anthropic disagrees with Reddit’s claims and says it will defend itself.

Reddit has played a central role in the rise of generative AI, as its 20-year-old platform hosts a vast trove of user discussions across countless topics. This data has become highly valuable for training large language models, including Anthropic’s Claude.

In contrast to Anthropic, Reddit has struck formal licensing agreements with other major AI players. In May, it partnered with OpenAI to allow access to its content for training, under terms protecting user privacy. A similar agreement exists with Google.

Reddit emphasized in the lawsuit that companies like OpenAI and Google respect its licensing terms, which are clearly outlined in its user agreement. The company said its platform was created for human connection and community. It is not to be exploited by commercial entities building billion-dollar tools without offering value in return.

Through this lawsuit, Reddit seeks damages and a court order requiring Anthropic to comply with its contractual and legal responsibilities. The company is requesting a jury trial.

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Companies have protections when it comes to user data. Random companies should not be using this data without consent, which should come in the form of a contract.

In an unfair situation with your business? Contact a Bradenton breach of contract dispute lawyer from Cahall Law Firm for legal assistance. We can help you understand what legal options are available and fight hard for a favorable outcome. Fill out the online form or call (941) 281-2019 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/reddit-sues-ai-anthropic-breach-contract-unfair-competition-rcna211062