‘More Than Just Objects’: Australian Book Sellers Raise Alarm Over ‘Horrific’ Destruction of Rare Titles to Feed AI

Australian book sellers are raising alarm after reports that rare titles are being destroyed to support artificial intelligence development. They describe the practice as “horrific,” saying it goes beyond routine disposal because it removes unique works and historical records that are hard or impossible to replace. Sellers argue that publishers and data collectors should use safer, rights-respecting methods—such as licensing access or digitizing with consent—instead of destroying physical copies. The claims have sparked calls for clearer regulation and industry standards.