We Need to Stop the Destruction of Books: They Are Humanity's Memory
The Issue
Petition to the United Nations, UNESCO Governments Around the World, Libraries and Artificial Intelligence Companies
Books are really important to us. We cannot just throw them away. For thousands of years people have used books to keep their knowledge safe. These books have discoveries from scientists, stories from writers, traditions from cultures and lessons from our ancestors. A rare old book or a historical document is not an old thing. It is a part of history.
Now artificial intelligence is changing how we get and use information. Artificial intelligence can make education, research and discovery better.. We should not destroy old books just to make new technology.
The Problem with "Project Panama" and Destroying Books
Some court papers have shown us that some artificial intelligence companies are doing something. In 2024 we found out that an artificial intelligence company called Anthropic started a project called "Project Panama". They wanted to scan millions of books and then throw them away. The people who worked on the project said they wanted to keep it a secret.
A judge in the United States said it was okay to destroy the books because the companies owned them. This is a problem. The companies are using a law that says they can do what they want with something they own. They cut the books open scan the pages. Then throw the books away. Even though they are not just taking books it is still very bad that they are destroying so many books.
We Need to Take Action
We need to ask: who will protect humanitys knowledge when technology is moving fast? We are asking the United Nations, UNESCO, governments, libraries and artificial intelligence companies to help us protect books. We need to make rules to keep books safe. While we can make copies of books the real book is very important. We cannot replace it.
We Want:
* Mandatory Non-Destructive Scanning Protocols: Artificial intelligence companies need to use machines that can scan books without destroying them. Some companies have already made machines that can do this. We should not destroy books just to make things faster and cheaper.
* International Standards for AI Data Sourcing: Governments need to make laws to protect books. We need to make sure companies are not destroying books just to get information.
* Transparency in AI Training and Data-Handling Processes: Artificial intelligence companies need to tell us how they get and handle books. We need to know what they are doing with humanitys knowledge.
* Partnerships Between Technology Companies and Preservation Experts: Historians, librarians and other experts need to work with technology companies to protect books. We can see this working with a project between OpenAI, Microsoft and Harvard University. They are scanning books. Keeping the physical copies safe.
* Recognition of Books as Cultural Assets: Old and rare books are very important. We need to treat them with respect. They are not things. They are a part of history.
We Can Have Both Technology and History
Artificial intelligence is built on what humanity has learned. The books and ideas from the past are the foundation of technology. Destroying books is a contradiction. We can make technology. Keep old books safe.
We believe the future should not be a choice, between technology and history. We can have both. We can make intelligence. Keep the physical books that tell us who we are.
Sign this petition to help protect books and humanitys knowledge. Progress should remember where it came from.
References
[1] Ars Technica. (2025). "Anthropic destroyed millions of print books to build its AI models."
[2] Snopes. (2026). "Are AI companies scanning and destroying millions of books including titles?"
[3] CryptoSlate. (2026). "AI firms are shredding books because copyright law is quietly rewarding them."
[4] Fortune. (2026). "This bookseller thought a large request was 'spam'. It's AI..."
[5] Internet Archive. "About the Scribe Workstation: -Destructive Scanning."
[6] Fortune. (2025). "OpenAI and Microsoft are teaming up with Harvards libraries to train AI models on 600-year- books."
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The Issue
Petition to the United Nations, UNESCO Governments Around the World, Libraries and Artificial Intelligence Companies
Books are really important to us. We cannot just throw them away. For thousands of years people have used books to keep their knowledge safe. These books have discoveries from scientists, stories from writers, traditions from cultures and lessons from our ancestors. A rare old book or a historical document is not an old thing. It is a part of history.
Now artificial intelligence is changing how we get and use information. Artificial intelligence can make education, research and discovery better.. We should not destroy old books just to make new technology.
The Problem with "Project Panama" and Destroying Books
Some court papers have shown us that some artificial intelligence companies are doing something. In 2024 we found out that an artificial intelligence company called Anthropic started a project called "Project Panama". They wanted to scan millions of books and then throw them away. The people who worked on the project said they wanted to keep it a secret.
A judge in the United States said it was okay to destroy the books because the companies owned them. This is a problem. The companies are using a law that says they can do what they want with something they own. They cut the books open scan the pages. Then throw the books away. Even though they are not just taking books it is still very bad that they are destroying so many books.
We Need to Take Action
We need to ask: who will protect humanitys knowledge when technology is moving fast? We are asking the United Nations, UNESCO, governments, libraries and artificial intelligence companies to help us protect books. We need to make rules to keep books safe. While we can make copies of books the real book is very important. We cannot replace it.
We Want:
* Mandatory Non-Destructive Scanning Protocols: Artificial intelligence companies need to use machines that can scan books without destroying them. Some companies have already made machines that can do this. We should not destroy books just to make things faster and cheaper.
* International Standards for AI Data Sourcing: Governments need to make laws to protect books. We need to make sure companies are not destroying books just to get information.
* Transparency in AI Training and Data-Handling Processes: Artificial intelligence companies need to tell us how they get and handle books. We need to know what they are doing with humanitys knowledge.
* Partnerships Between Technology Companies and Preservation Experts: Historians, librarians and other experts need to work with technology companies to protect books. We can see this working with a project between OpenAI, Microsoft and Harvard University. They are scanning books. Keeping the physical copies safe.
* Recognition of Books as Cultural Assets: Old and rare books are very important. We need to treat them with respect. They are not things. They are a part of history.
We Can Have Both Technology and History
Artificial intelligence is built on what humanity has learned. The books and ideas from the past are the foundation of technology. Destroying books is a contradiction. We can make technology. Keep old books safe.
We believe the future should not be a choice, between technology and history. We can have both. We can make intelligence. Keep the physical books that tell us who we are.
Sign this petition to help protect books and humanitys knowledge. Progress should remember where it came from.
References
[1] Ars Technica. (2025). "Anthropic destroyed millions of print books to build its AI models."
[2] Snopes. (2026). "Are AI companies scanning and destroying millions of books including titles?"
[3] CryptoSlate. (2026). "AI firms are shredding books because copyright law is quietly rewarding them."
[4] Fortune. (2026). "This bookseller thought a large request was 'spam'. It's AI..."
[5] Internet Archive. "About the Scribe Workstation: -Destructive Scanning."
[6] Fortune. (2025). "OpenAI and Microsoft are teaming up with Harvards libraries to train AI models on 600-year- books."
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Petition created on 6 August 2026