Meta's New Approach: Using Public Social Media Posts for AI Training in the UK

Meta to Resume Using Public Posts in the UK for AI Training

By Reuter

Meta Platforms (META.O) has announced it will restart using public content from Facebook and Instagram users in the UK to train its generative AI models. This move comes after the company had previously paused AI training in the region due to regulatory concerns.

Key Details:

• Resumption of AI Training: Meta will now use public posts, including photos, captions, and comments, for training its AI models. The company has assured that private messages and content from users under 18 will not be included in the training data.

• Regulatory Challenges: This decision follows a regulatory setback in June, when the Irish privacy regulator instructed Meta to delay its AI training plans. The delay was also to address concerns from the UK's Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

• Engagement with ICO: Meta has worked closely with the ICO to clarify its practices, leading to updated guidelines that have paved the way for resuming AI training. The company anticipates that this regulatory clarity will accelerate the deployment of AI technologies in its UK services.

• User Notifications: Starting next week, Facebook and Instagram users in the UK will receive in-app notifications about how their public posts will be used in AI training. The ICO has confirmed that Meta has improved its process for users to object to data use, extending the period during which users can opt out.

• Privacy Concerns: The decision to use public posts for AI training has faced criticism from privacy advocacy groups like NOYB, which argue that Meta’s notifications do not fully meet EU privacy and transparency standards.

Meta’s revised approach demonstrates its effort to align with regulatory feedback while continuing to advance its AI capabilities in accordance with privacy standards.