EU urges Meta to refrain from using personal data for AI models

Advocacy group NOYB has taken a stand against Meta’s plan to use personal data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models without seeking consent. The group has called on privacy enforcers across Europe to intervene and prevent Meta from implementing changes to its privacy policy that would allow the use of years of personal posts, private images, and online tracking data for AI technology.

NOYB has launched 11 complaints against Meta and urged data protection authorities in several European countries to take urgent action against the imminent changes. Despite Meta’s assertion that it uses publicly available online and licensed information to train AI, NOYB remains critical of the company’s approach.

In response to NOYB’s criticism, Meta defended its practices, stating that it complies with privacy laws and follows the lead of other tech companies in Europe. However, NOYB founder Max Schrems pointed out that the European Court of Justice has previously ruled against Meta’s use of personal data for advertising purposes, raising concerns about the company’s approach to AI technology.

Schrems emphasized the importance of obtaining opt-in consent from users for data usage, rather than requiring them to opt-out. He criticized Meta for making it difficult for users to exclude themselves from data processing, stating that the company should seek permission before using personal information.

The clash between NOYB and Meta highlights the ongoing debate over data privacy and the ethical use of personal information for AI development. As privacy advocates continue to push for stricter regulations, tech companies like Meta may face increasing scrutiny over their data practices.