Meta to Use User Interactions and Public Posts to Train AI in the EU
Meta Platforms announced on Monday that it will begin using user interactions with its AI tools, as well as public posts and comments from adult users, to train its artificial intelligence models across the European Union.
This development follows Meta's recent launch of its AI services in Europe, a rollout that was initially scheduled for June 2024 but delayed due to concerns over data privacy and protection regulations. While Meta AI debuted in the U.S. in 2023, its entry into the EU was held back by the region’s strict transparency and data usage standards.
According to Meta, users across platforms like Facebook and Instagram will now receive notifications outlining what types of data may be used for AI training. They will also be given access to an opt-out form to object to their data being included.
The company emphasized that private messages and data from users under 18 will not be used. Only content such as user prompts to Meta AI and public posts from adult accounts will be involved in training the models.
Meta had paused its European AI rollout in June after the Irish Data Protection Commission requested a delay over concerns with using social media content for AI development. The company also faced pressure from privacy advocacy group NOYB, which urged regulators to intervene.
Meanwhile, other tech giants like Elon Musk’s X and Google are also under scrutiny by Irish regulators. X is currently being investigated for potentially using EU users' personal data to train its AI, Grok, while Google is facing a probe regarding the handling of user data for AI training since September.
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