Meta Halts Llama Model Release in EU Over GDPR Concerns
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced that it will not be releasing its advanced multimodal Llama model in the European Union. The decision stems from concerns regarding the unpredictable nature of the EU’s regulatory environment, particularly in relation to compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Llama model, which can process text, video, images, and audio, is an open-source tool that can be freely downloaded and adapted by users.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed that while the multimodal Llama model will be launched in other regions, it will not be available in the EU. This decision highlights ongoing tensions between major technology firms and European regulators, especially with the upcoming implementation of the EU AI Act and stricter requirements under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The spokesperson emphasized that the unpredictable behavior of regulators in the EU played a significant role in this choice.
Meta has faced challenges regarding its compliance with GDPR, particularly concerning the training of its AI models using data from Facebook and Instagram users in the EU. The Irish Data Protection Commission, which oversees Meta’s adherence to GDPR, is in discussions with the company about its model training practices. Other EU data protection authorities may also intervene, potentially delaying the approval process for new AI models.
While text-based versions of the Llama model will remain available in the EU, they have not been trained on data from EU Meta users. A new text-only version is expected to be released soon. Meta’s decision follows a similar announcement from Apple, which also opted not to introduce certain AI features in the EU due to compliance concerns. Additionally, Meta has suspended the use of generative AI tools in Brazil as it engages in talks with the country’s data protection authority regarding privacy issues.
Source: Meta pulls plug on release of advanced AI model in EU
