Europeans file privacy complaints against Meta for its AI plans

Vienna-based privacy campaign group, Noyb (“None of Your Business”), has filed complaints in 11 European countries against Meta, the global tech giant formerly known as Facebook. The complaints are in response to Meta’s planned privacy policy change, which Noyb believes would allow for the “unlawful” use of personal data for artificial intelligence technology.

According to Noyb, Meta’s new privacy policy, set to take effect on June 26, would permit the use of all public and non-public user data collected since 2007 for unspecified current and future AI technology. This move raises concerns about the potential misuse of personal data without the required opt-in consent from users, as mandated by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Noyb founder Max Schrems expressed alarm over Meta’s lack of transparency regarding the intended use of the data, warning that it could range from harmless chatbots to invasive personalized advertising or even more concerning applications like autonomous drones.

The group is urging data protection authorities in the 11 European countries to intervene and halt Meta’s new privacy policy before it goes into effect. Additionally, Noyb plans to file similar complaints in the remaining EU member states in the coming days.

Noyb has a history of taking legal action against tech giants to protect user privacy rights, and this latest move underscores the ongoing battle to hold companies like Meta accountable for their data practices. The group’s efforts align with the broader mission of safeguarding user data and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations in the digital age.