alt Hacker News> "Rare" meaning inclusive of high-quality items,
This is the citation needed that is missing from every report so far, including this one which deliberately refuses to reveal anything about these books.
You’d think if there were examples of actually valuable, rare books being shredded that the journalists would at least be able to name one such example. Instead it’s always vague posting about the destruction without ever naming any examples.
I think it’s because if they named some example titles, everyone would see that they don’t care about these books being shredded.
On the contrary these companies should be publicly listing the name/info of every book they destroy and use as training data.
If the books are really worthless as you say then their case would be proved transparently.
This article presumably had to maintain confidentiality to protect the seller who agreed to place a tracking device in the shipment.
I would say the burden of proof is on the companies destroying human cultural heritage en masse, not the handful of journalists calling for attention to the matter.