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?
