Meta asked a US district court to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that the tech giant illegally torrented pornography to train its AI model. The lawsuit, filed by Strike 3 Holdings, claimed that Meta downloaded some of its adult films on Meta corporate IP addresses and concealed other downloads using a stealth network of 2,500 hidden IP addresses. Strike 3 sought damages that could have exceeded $350 million, according to TorrentFreak.

Meta's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, filed on Monday, accused Strike 3 of relying on guesswork and innuendo. The tech giant alleged that Strike 3 has been labeled by some as a copyright troll that files extortive lawsuits. Meta requested that all copyright claims be dropped, arguing that there is no evidence that the company directed any of the downloads of about 2,400 adult movies owned by Strike 3 or was even aware of the illegal activity.

Meta also claimed that Strike 3 cited no facts to suggest that the company has ever trained an AI model on adult images or video, much less intentionally so. The company stated that it uses a variety of data sources to train its AI models, including publicly available datasets and user-generated content. However, Meta did not provide any information about the specific data sources used to train its AI model.

The lawsuit against Meta highlights the growing concern about the use of copyrighted materials in AI training. AI models rely on large amounts of data to learn and improve, and this data can include copyrighted materials such as images, videos, and music. The use of copyrighted materials in AI training can raise questions about copyright infringement and the potential for AI models to perpetuate biases and stereotypes.

Strike 3 Holdings has been involved in several high-profile lawsuits against companies and individuals accused of copyright infringement. The company has been labeled by some as a copyright troll, a term used to describe companies that file lawsuits against individuals or companies in an effort to extract settlements rather than pursue a legitimate claim.

The implications of the lawsuit against Meta are significant, as it raises questions about the use of copyrighted materials in AI training and the potential for AI models to perpetuate biases and stereotypes. The case also highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the development and use of AI models.

The US district court is expected to rule on Meta's motion to dismiss the lawsuit in the coming weeks. If the motion is denied, the case will proceed to trial, where Strike 3 Holdings will have the opportunity to present its case and seek damages from Meta.