this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2026
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Fuck AI
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A place for all those who loathe AI to discuss things, post articles, and ridicule the AI hype. Proud supporter of working people. And proud booer of SXSW 2024.
AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
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This is actually an interesting topic that I've had to consistently inform people about. It has never been illegal in the USA to download and keep any kind of media. What is illegal is
the redistribution of media, meaning "seeding" and giving away copies of pirated media
using stolen works for profits, such as a cracked/unlicensed software or selling modified works of others
So like 99% of what people refer to as "piracy" is legal.
And they can’t enforce anything, so they try to manipulate with some ethical-sounding statements.
It's illegal, just not criminally
No, it's not. The uploader is the one violating copyright, not the downloader.
And further, that was the entire point of the DMCA. Circumventing whatever anti-copying restrictions were on the thing so you could copy it specifically is illegal.