Australian booksellers raise alarm over destruction of rare titles to feed AI
Australian booksellers are raising concerns over the destruction of rare titles to feed artificial intelligence. The issue stems from a practice known as 'destructive scanning', where physical books are scanned and then destroyed. This practice is now understood to be widespread among generative AI companies, with Australian secondhand booksellers wondering if they have been caught up in the AI supply chain.
- ▪A copyright lawsuit against AI company Anthropic revealed the practice of 'destructive scanning', where physical books are scanned and then destroyed.
- ▪The practice is now understood to be widespread among generative AI companies, with intermediaries facilitating the process.
- ▪Australian secondhand booksellers have experienced waves of orders that do not fit with usual customer patterns, with some vendors receiving large orders from a Canadian company called Zoom Books.
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| Original publisher | the Guardian |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/02/australian-book-sellers-alarm-destruction-rare-titles-ai-supply-chain |
| Publication time | Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:12:40 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-08-02T16:20:46.389Z |
| Last seen | 2026-08-02T16:20:46.389Z |
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| Summary source text | contentText |
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A 400-year-old document recording a Spanish Inquisition exorcism at the Antiquariat Forum BV and Inlibris stall at the 2026 Rare Book Fair. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The GuardianView image in fullscreenA 400-year-old document recording a Spanish Inquisition exorcism at the Antiquariat Forum BV and Inlibris stall at the 2026 Rare Book Fair. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The GuardianAI (artificial intelligence)‘More than just objects’: Australian booksellers raise alarm over ‘horrific’ destruction of rare titles to feed AISecondhand booksellers believe they may have been caught up in the AI supply chain that sees old books scanned then destroyed Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Stephanie ConverySat 1…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at the Guardian.
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