Noyb Challenges Meta’s Privacy Policy Changes on AI
A series of complaints have been filed across Europe by the digital rights NGO Noyb regarding the changes in Meta’s privacy policy. These alterations allow Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, to utilize user posts and images for training its AI model. Founded by Austrian activist and lawyer Max Schrems, Noyb has been at the forefront of significant privacy complaints within the EU. Urgent decisions are being sought from data protection authorities in 11 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Spain, before the policy changes come into effect on June 26.
Meta asserts its compliance with EU privacy regulations while facing challenges over the collection of user data for training generative AI models. The use of personal data for AI training is governed by the GDPR, the EU’s landmark data privacy regulation. Companies can leverage ‘legitimate interest’ under the GDPR to process such data, but this concept is complex and requires a careful balance between business interests and user privacy rights. Users must be informed about the utilization of their personal data for legitimate interests.
Noyb argues that users are not provided with a meaningful choice regarding these policy changes. Users are not required to actively opt-in to the new policy; instead, the changes will take effect automatically. Opting out is described as ‘extremely complicated,’ involving a form submission process rather than a simple click of a button. Meta’s purpose in training AI with user data is questioned by Noyb, highlighting concerns over the lack of clarity in Meta’s intentions.
Meta’s updated privacy policy enables the company to gather user posts from its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, for training generative AI models. However, private messages between individuals are excluded from this policy. The European Data Protection Supervisor emphasizes that publicly available information remains subject to data protection laws. Noyb expresses particular worries about the extensive use of personal data from approximately four billion Meta users without clear limitations on its experimental technology. The GDPR is seen as a protective measure for EU users in this scenario.
Source: Schrems NGO files 11 complaints across Europe over Meta’s use of data to train AI
