Meta Resumes AI Training on European User Data with Opt-Out Policy
After a temporary halt due to regulatory pressure and complaints from the European Union, Meta has announced the resumption of training its AI models using public content from European users. The company believes that this move is essential to enhance the relevance and utility of its AI assistant for local users.
Meta will be utilizing public posts from adults on both Facebook and Instagram, including activities such as likes, comments, and interactions with Meta AI. It is important to note that private messages and content from minors will not be included in this process. Users can expect to receive notifications regarding this AI training program, which is designed as an opt-out system. Individuals who prefer not to have their information used by Meta can make a request through a dedicated form. 
Concerns Raised by Critics
While Meta assures a smooth process for users who opt-out, critics have expressed concerns about the company's approach. Privacy watchdog None of Your Business (NOYB) has accused Meta of breaching the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by implementing what they describe as "malicious consent trickery." NOYB founder Max Schrems criticized Meta for making the opt-out mechanism difficult to access, putting the onus on users to object to the data collection.
On the contrary, Meta defends its opt-out policy by emphasizing the simplicity and accessibility of the objection form. The company asserts that they will honor all objections received and ensure a user-friendly process for submitting new objections.
Legal Landscape
Meta affirms that its approach aligns with GDPR requirements and has received approval from The Data Protection Commission (DPC) in Ireland. Despite this validation, the European Data Protection Board is yet to issue a collective statement on the matter. Legal challenges are anticipated, particularly surrounding the opt-out nature of the data collection.
As Meta continues its AI training program on European user data, the debate around privacy, consent, and data protection is expected to persist.
