The company will start notifying Instagram and Facebook users of the process starting next week after getting the all-clear from the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Although the AI ​​tool is still not available in the UK due to previous regulatory issues, Meta is moving forward with plans to collect data from user submissions to improve the software for future use.
As part of the agreement with the ICO, Meta will only collect data from adults and will not include users under 18. It has also agreed to offer users an opt-out clause, although critics have argued that this is not transparent or direct. it should be.
Meta has been scraping public photos and posts of Australian adult dating users since 2007. It also harvests similar data for users located in the US.
With the divisive changes now coming to the UK, here’s what you can do to stop Meta’s AI from gobbling up Instagram and Facebook posts.
In an earlier email to non-UK users, Meta said it was “preparing to expand” its AI into other areas, including a new and improved virtual assistant and other features announced last year.
As part of the launch, it will start using your data for new purposes beyond targeted advertising; that is, to train and improve artificial intelligence systems. This includes a large ChatGPT-style language model that has been released over the years, the most recent of which is Llama 3.
Virtually everything you share on Facebook and Instagram is available, from posts and photos (along with their captions) to messages sent by AI chatbots when they’re live.
Meta recently canned AI chatbots based on celebrities and fictional characters.
Meta
However, Meta promises to “not use the content of private messages with friends and family” to power the AI.
Is Meta allowed to do this?
To implement the new rules, Meta said it relied on a legal basis called “legitimate interest”, which essentially gives businesses a legitimate way to process user data without requiring express consent under the GDPR. So, EU and UK laws came into force in 2018 designed to strengthen online privacy and give more control over personal information.
Although it’s not as simple as unchecking the box in your settings, there are ways you can try and keep your data from being entered by Facebook’s AI.
As required by GDPR, Meta allows users to object to information being used in this way. To do so, you can fill out a short form on the Instagram website, which asks the reason why you want to opt out, along with some personal information such as your country of residence and email.
Meta began testing more generative AI features for the social network late last year, including search tools, advertising and business messaging
Meta
Meta said it would “consider objection requests under relevant data protection legislation” and would honor successful appeals “going forward”.
However, here’s what you can do: despite your protests, Meta can still use your data to train its AI in some cases, whether you use the platform or not. This will affect you if you appear in or are mentioned in posts, photos and descriptions shared by Instagram and Facebook users.
What to say when opting out
Targeted ads are nefarious enough to make you feel like you’re being spied on, but how do you take issue with a supposedly tame AI model? Yes, it may help to understand how and when companies can use their legitimate interests before filing your objection request.
Is interest legitimate?
In general, the company must have a clear reason to process your data for legal reasons of legitimate interest, to prevent fraud or to improve its services. At the same time, the business must demonstrate that processing data is necessary without the consent of the person. Importantly, they must also balance their reasons against the privacy rights of individual users. If the privacy risk is high, they cannot rely on legitimate interests.
All this must be done transparently, and users must be given the right to object to the data being processed.
Therefore, in this particular case, Facebook or Instagram users may express concern about the lack of control over how data is used in AI training. They could mention the potential for unintended consequences or misuse of data in future applications – after all, AI tools have been known to spread misinformation and even hatred in the past.
People might argue that Meta’s AI development process lacks transparency. Ask yourself: has the company made it clear exactly how your data is being used or what AI model it is providing?
You may need to suggest that Meta explore other data collection methods, such as anonymized data or synthetic datasets for AI training, instead of relying on personal information.
After all, other companies such as Google and Microsoft prioritize publicly available data for AI training over personal information. They also usually require explicit opt-in from the user before integrating the data into the training process.
What if your objection is rejected?
If you are not happy with Meta’s response to your objection, you can file a complaint with the ICO. They can investigate Meta’s practices and potentially issue fines or enforcement.
While less common, you can explore legal action against Meta if you believe that the use of your data for AI training violates your privacy rights under the GDPR. This route is usually for more serious cases and can be expensive, so it is recommended to consult a lawyer who specializes in data privacy.
