Meta’s Use of Facebook and Instagram Data for AI Training Sparks Controversy

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, announced significant changes to its privacy policy effective June 26, 2024, which allow the company to use user data for artificial intelligence (AI) training purposes. This policy change has led to widespread concern among social media users, particularly in Europe.

In a news release dated June 10, 2024, Meta stated it is working to develop advanced AI technology tailored for European languages, geographies, and cultural references. Since May 22, over two billion notifications and emails have been sent to European users explaining the new policy and providing an objection form for those who wish to opt out.

Multiple social media posts and videos have emerged demonstrating how users can opt out of data scraping. A viral TikTok video, viewed over 4.3 million times, highlights the difficulty of the opt-out process, requiring users to navigate through multiple layers within Instagram’s settings.

Despite these instructions, skepticism remains high. Some users reported that Meta’s changing layouts and settings make it difficult to follow the opt-out steps effectively. Additionally, U.S. users have not received similar notifications or opt-out options, sparking confusion and backlash, particularly on platforms like Reddit and Twitter.

Meta clarified that the opt-out option is currently available only to its European and UK users, due to stricter online privacy regulations in those regions. The company has been consulting with the Irish Data Protection Commission to ensure compliance with EU privacy laws.

Criticism of the new policy has been widespread. The European Center for Digital Rights, a nonprofit focused on privacy law enforcement, filed complaints across 11 European countries. The group criticized the opt-out process as overly complicated and argued that Meta should require opt-in consent rather than placing the burden on users to opt out.

Meta’s Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, stated that the company does not train its AI on users’ private data, only publicly shared information.

For ongoing updates, Meta indicated they would provide further information as it becomes available.

Source: Why Opting Out of Meta’s Use of Facebook, Instagram Posts for AI Training Isn’t Easy.