Meta admits scraping Aussie data to train AI tools | Mudgee Guardian
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Concerns Over Data Usage
Politicians and academics issued a call for greater legal protection on Wednesday after Meta executives disclosed the use of photos and posts shared by Australians on Facebook and Instagram dating back to 2007 for building AI models. The revelations were made during the Senate inquiry into Adopting Artificial Intelligence in Canberra. Meta's privacy policy global director, Melinda Claybaugh, confirmed the company's use of user-generated content to train its generative AI tools, Llama and Meta AI.
While Meta stated that it does not utilize data from accounts of individuals under 18 years old for training its AI models, any public photos shared by adults, including those of children, are used for this purpose. Despite the availability of opt-out options in Europe, Australian users do not have the same choice, a disparity that has raised concerns among lawmakers.
Call for Legal Restrictions
Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, who chaired the inquiry, criticized Meta's use of personal photos as "an unprecedented violation" and called for legal constraints on the company's actions. Meanwhile, RMIT University's technology and information associate dean, Dana McKay, emphasized the need for more stringent regulations in light of Meta's data practices.
Meta Asia Pacific's public policy vice-president, Simon Milner, defended the company's data usage, suggesting that collecting more local information could help mitigate AI risks such as bias. The Senate committee, which has also engaged with tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, is set to release its final report by September 19.
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