Tag: facebook

Facebook changes Live Video policy to the detriment of its users

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Facebook users have plenty of options to communicate with friends, other Facebook users, and the entire world via the platform.

One of these options is via live video. These are recorded and shown on Facebook. The recorded videos were stored by Facebook indefinitely, but this changes with the new policy.

Here are the details:

  • Live video is stored for 30 days only on Facebook.
  • Any Live video that is older than 30 days will be deleted.
  • This applies to all live videos retroactively.

In other words: Facebook will soon start deleting old live videos from its users en masse.

Thankfully for users, this is not done automatically. Facebook says that it will inform users with live videos about the new ruling by email and in the app. Facebook users have 90 days from that day to download or transfer their content for safekeeping.

Facebook explains that users have several options to save videos. There is a single download option, which is listed under the three-dots menu when selecting Menu > Activity log > Live videos.

This is probably not very practical for most users, unless only a few videos need to be saved.

There is also a bulk download option according to Facebook. Note that this requires the notification that informs you about the deletion of the videos.

Here is how that works:

  1. Click or tap on the notification to get started.
  2. Select “Download live videos”.
  3. Pick a location to download and a date range for the live videos.
  4. Select “Create File”.

There are other options, including transferring videos, e.g., to Google Drive, and to convert parts of live videos to reels.

Facebook explains both options on its website.

Why is Facebook making the change?

    Facebook has a simple explanation for limiting storage of live video on its network:

    People all over the world use Facebook Live to share their experiences with their communities in real time. Because most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting, we’re updating how long live videos can be stored on Facebook.

    In short: storing live video indefinitely is not financially viable. Facebook has to pay for storage and the earnings from the videos do not justify indefinite storage.

    Closing Words

    If you do broadcast live on Facebook and want to keep your videos, you may want to start downloading or transferring them as soon as you get the notification that the content will be deleted.

    Facebook does not really say when content will get deleted, only that it can be deleted at any time after day 91. Users may also request an extension.

    Facebook Instagram

    Meta gives Europeans a pass – won’t use data for AI training

    Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

    European Facebook and Instagram users may breathe a sigh of relief, as their public data won’t be used by Meta for AI training for the time being.

    Meta published an update regarding the use of data from European users on Facebook.

    Here are the highlights:

    • Meta will pause plans to train its large language models using publicly shared content from European users on Facebook or Instagram.
    • Data protection agencies from 11 countries from the EU have filed complaints against Meta.
    • Meta calls it a “step backwards for European innovation”.

    The decision does not change the handling of data from users outside of the European Union. Meta will use public data from these users to train its AI systems.

    Meta said that it hopes that the data protection authorities chance their stance on the issue. The company said previously that it would use public posts and comments from users over the age of 18 only for AI training. European users were the only ones to get an opt-out option.

    While Meta said that it remains committed to bringing AI functionality to users from the European Union, it added that the lack of local information would make it a “second-rate experience”.

    Here is an interesting idea: how about making the training opt-in? Giving Facebook and Instagram users the option to give Meta permission to use their data for AI training.

    The main issue here, at least for Meta, is that it would gain access to a fraction of the data only. Opt-in systems are favored by users, as they give them full control over a feature. They are disliked by companies, as it limits the reach significantly.

    Meta could counter this by giving users incentives to share their data. It will be interesting to see how this will turn out in the end. Meta said that it will “continue to work collaboratively” with the Irish Data Protection Commission.

    Would you allow companies to use your public data for AI training?

    Facebook

    Facebook will use your data for AI training, unless you opt-out

    Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

    Meta is notifying its users currently on Facebook about a privacy-impacting change that will to into effect on June 26, 2024.

    The company says that it is expanding “AI at Meta experiences” to the user’s region. AI refers to the “collection of generative AI features and experiences” at Meta. It includes Meta AI and AI Creative Tools according to the notification.

    All Facebook users are opted-in automatically. Those who do not want their data to be used for AI training need to opt-out. This opt-out is not straightforward and it appears to be a deliberate decision by Meta.

    Meta Facebook AI use of data for AI training

    A click on the right to object link in the notification opens the Object to Your Information Being Used for AI at Meta page.

    The page offers information on the data that Meta plans to use for AI training and the data that it won’t use. In a nutshell, public data, for instance posts or photos, will be used. Private data, including private messages, won’t be used.

    For the opt-out, it is necessary to provide the following information:

    • Country of residence.
    • Email address.
    • Writing an essay on “how this processing impacts you”.

    There is also one optional text field that users can fill out to provide additional information.

    Meta processes the information and the notification sounds as it if can accept or decline the request. Meta writes:

    If your objection is honored, it will be applied going forward.

    This is not the end of it though. Meta sends a confirmation code to the email address. This code needs to be entered into a form on the Facebook website to confirm the email address.

    Meta then says that it will review the submission as soon as possible. It took less than a minute to receive the answer:

    Hi Martin,

    We’ve reviewed your request and will honor your objection. This means your request will be applied going forward.

    If you want to learn more about generative AI, and our privacy work in this new space, please review the information we have in Privacy Center.

    facebook.com/privacy/genai

    This inbox cannot accept incoming messages. If you send us a reply, it won’t be received.

    Thanks,
    Privacy Operations

    In case you are wondering what I wrote in the required text field. It was “I object to the use of my data for the training of AI at Meta”

    Whether Meta is analyzing user requests with AI is unclear, but it seems very unlikely that a human processed the request in less than a minute after sending it.

    If someone could try and write nonsense in the field, we’d know for sure.

    What about you? Do you mind if your public data is used for AI training?

    facebook

    Unlink Facebook, Instagram and Messenger accounts in the EU

    Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

    Facebook, Instagram and Messenger users from the EU, EEA and Switzerland may soon unlink their accounts to stop data sharing.

    Meta, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp parent company, announced that users from the EU, EEA and Switzerland will soon have the option to unlink some of their services. The announcement includes some surprises, among them an option to unlink Facebook data from Marketplace activities, and Facebook Messenger from Facebook data.

    The improvement comes as a response to Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The EU identified gatekeeper companies that dominate certain services on the Internet or on user devices. New regulations for these companies aim to improve user rights and competition in the market.

    Google users from the EU may also unlink services to stop the automatic exchange of data between them. Now, it is Meta that announces similar functionality for some of its main services. The company says that it has “assembled a large cross-functional team staffed by senior employees from around the globe and across our entire family of apps” to introduce these changes to the platforms.

    Meta products affected by the change

    Meta mentions Facebook and Instagram only in the announcement. WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, is also considered a core platform service by the DMA, but not mentioned by Meta.

    Facebook and Instagram users who connected their accounts will see an option to unlink these in the coming weeks. They can:

    • Keep the two accounts linked and have information shared between Facebook and Instagram.
    • Unlink the accounts to manage them as separate accounts. This ends data sharing between the two accounts.

    Facebook Messenger users may choose to use Messenger as a standalone product. They may create a new account in the application to use it as a standalone messenger app.

    Core services, including private messaging and chat, and voice and video calling are available then.

    Facebook Marketplace users may unlink Marketplace from their Facebook information. Users who do that may continue to use Marketplace to buy and sell products. Communication between buyer and seller, on the other hand, happens exclusively via email and no longer Facebook Messenger or Chat.

    Facebook users who play games on the site may block games from accessing their Facebook information. This limits availability of games. Only “some single-player games” may be played in that case. Multiplayer games, personalized game suggestions and in-game purchases are not available in these cases.

    Closing Words

    Facebook plans to roll out these changes in the coming weeks. Only users from the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland will get these options. The changes will roll out gradually and users will be notified about them once they reach their accounts or devices.