Objection to Meta AIFacebook and Instagram want to use personal data for AI training

Last month, we reported on the new AI functions in Meta's services. These include Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp. Now the company is preparing to launch artificial intelligence called Meta AI in the European Union. For users, however, this does not only mean that they will be able to use Meta AI in the services in future. Meta also wants to use all user data as training material for its AI. According to Meta, this includes all posts, all photos and their captions and all messages that users send to Meta AI. Private messages are expressly excluded from processing.

Anyone who does not agree with the use of their data can raise an objection. On the one hand, this is a good thing, but on the other hand, this approach has caused astonishment among data and consumer protection advocates. After all, companies normally have to obtain the consent of the data subjects if they want to process their data. In this case, Meta is citing a "legitimate interest" in further developing its service. The General Data Protection Regulation does indeed provide for the possibility of asserting "legitimate interests". However, in this case it is questionable whether Meta's business interests should be valued higher than the fundamental right to data protection of several hundred million users in the EU. In the meantime, the association NOYB - European Center for Digital Rights has therefore filed a complaint with 11 data protection authorities in Europe. A decision on whether Meta's actions are lawful is still pending.