Meta says it will resume AI training with public content from European users
Social media company Meta announced on Monday its plans to resume using publicly available content from European users to train its artificial intelligence models. This decision comes after a pause in the AI training process last year due to concerns raised by activists regarding data privacy.
The company, formerly known as Facebook and Instagram, stated that it will utilize public posts and comments shared by adult users in the 27-nation European Union to train its AI systems. Additionally, interactions such as questions and queries with Meta AI will be leveraged to enhance and refine the AI models.
Meta recently introduced its Meta AI assistant for European users, following its initial rollout in the United States and other key markets. The AI training initiatives had faced obstacles due to strict data privacy laws within the European Union, which prioritize individuals' control over their personal information.
The Vienna-based group NOYB, led by activist Max Schrems, had lodged complaints with national privacy watchdogs concerning Meta's AI training strategies, urging them to intervene before the next phase of AI model training commenced. In December, a panel of EU privacy regulators confirmed that Meta's original approach aligned with legal requirements.
The decision to resume AI training with public content from European users reflects Meta's continued effort to enhance its AI technologies while upholding data privacy standards and regulatory compliance.
Notification and Objection Process
Meta outlined its plan to inform users in the EU about the training activities, providing a link to a form where objections can be raised at any time. The company emphasized its commitment to honoring all objection forms submitted by users.
The decision to resume AI training with public content from European users reflects Meta's continued effort to enhance its AI technologies while upholding data privacy standards and regulatory compliance.
