NAIROBI, Kenya- Meta’s ongoing efforts to train its generative AI models are raising significant privacy concerns for both users and non-users of its platforms.
As the tech giant leverages user-generated content to refine its AI, the implications for personal data privacy are increasingly troubling.
Here’s what you need to know about how Meta is using your data and what you can do about it.
How Meta Uses Your Data for AI Training
Meta’s privacy policy makes it clear that the company uses information shared on its products and services to train its AI models.
This includes posts, photos, and captions but explicitly excludes private messages.
However, the scope of data collection extends beyond the platform’s users.
Meta gathers data from across the internet, which may include personal information like usernames, home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Meta states, “If we collect a public blog post, it may include the author’s name and contact information. When we do get personal information as part of this public and licensed data that we use to train our models, we don’t specifically link this data to any Meta account.”
But the concern doesn’t end there. Meta acknowledges that information from non-users can still be incorporated into its AI models.
This can happen if someone appears in an image shared by a user or if information about them is mentioned in posts or captions.
The Opt-Out Dilemma
While Meta offers an opt-out option for users who do not want their data used in AI training, the process is anything but straightforward.
The company’s website provides a convoluted path to the opt-out form, requiring users to navigate through multiple sections.
To opt out on Facebook, users must:
- Click their profile picture in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” followed by “Privacy Center.”
- Scroll down to find the “Generative AI at Meta” section.
- Navigate through the “More Resources” subsection.
- Finally, locate and fill out the “right to object” form.
However, the effectiveness of opting out is questionable, especially when third-party data is involved.
Meta does not guarantee that opt-out requests will be honored, adding another layer of complexity for users.
Regulatory Pushback in the EU and UK
The European Union and the United Kingdom have taken a firm stance against Meta’s data practices, citing potential violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This week, Meta’s lead regulator in the EU, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), announced a suspension of Meta’s plans to use user data for AI training in the EU and UK.
Meta recently informed users of an impending privacy policy change, which includes using public content from Facebook and Instagram to train their AI models.
