Privacy law calls as Meta admits farming Aussie photos | The Border ...
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Privacy Concerns and Call for Legal Protection
Politicians and academics issued a call for greater legal protection on Wednesday after Meta executives revealed that photos and posts shared by Australians on Facebook and Instagram since 2007 were used to build AI models. The US company confirmed this data usage during a Senate inquiry in Canberra, highlighting the need for stricter privacy laws.
The Senate inquiry, focusing on Adopting Artificial Intelligence, aims to address AI trends, opportunities, risks, and its implications on various aspects including elections and the environment. Meta's privacy policy director, Melinda Claybaugh, explained to the committee that content shared on their platforms is utilized to train generative AI tools, raising concerns about privacy violations.
Concerns Over Data Usage
While Meta stated that they do not use photos posted by children, any images of children shared by adults are employed in AI training. Despite offering European users an opt-out option, Australian users are not provided with the same choice. This discrepancy has led to calls for legal restrictions on Meta's data usage and the need for new privacy laws.
Labor Senator Tony Sheldon criticized Meta's use of personal photos as an "unprecedented violation" and emphasized the urgency for regulating such practices. RMIT University's associate dean, Dana McKay, also echoed the need for stronger regulations, highlighting the lack of awareness among Australian users regarding data scraping.
Defending Data Usage
Meta's Asia Pacific public policy vice-president, Simon Milner, defended the company's data practices, emphasizing the importance of local data in addressing AI risks such as bias. While acknowledging the complexities of privacy policies, Milner stated that compulsory opt-ins would be inconvenient for internet users.
The Senate committee, which has also heard from tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, is set to release a final report by September 19, addressing the concerns raised about data privacy and AI usage.
