Instagram and Facebook to train AI on your photos and posts

Social media giant Meta has sparked privacy concerns among users with its new data collection policy.

Ahead of the launch of its new artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the UK, the company is telling Facebook and Instagram users that it will start leveraging their information (including photos and posts) to train its AI systems .

However, social media users are not the only ones who will be affected. In a move that is sure to ruffle feathers, Meta is informing people that it may stop processing their data even if they do not use its services.

Angry users have taken to social media to criticize the new rules and warn others to beef up their security. But, is there a way to withdraw from the controversial policy or are you aware of Meta’s whims?

With the changes set to go into effect in a few weeks, here’s what you can do to stop AI Meta from tainting your Instagram and Facebook data.

What is changing?

In a recent email to users, Meta said it was “getting ready to expand its AI to more regions, including its new and improved virtual assistant and the other features it announced last year.

As part of the launch, it will start using your data for a new purpose other than targeted advertising; that is, to train and improve its artificial intelligence systems. These include the great ChatGPT-style language models he has released over the years, the latest of which is Llama 3.

Almost everything you share on Facebook and Instagram is recognisable, from your posts and photos (along with their captions) to the messages you send to AI chatbots when they go live.

However, Meta promises to “not use the content of your private messages with friends and family” to power its AI.

When will the new rules apply?

Meta says its updated privacy policy reflecting the new changes will go into effect on June 26, according to its email to users.

Is Meta allowed to do this?

To enforce the new rules, Meta says it relies on a legal basis known as “legitimate interests”, which essentially gives businesses a legal way to process user data without the need for express consent under the GDPR. That, by the way, is an EU and UK law implemented in 2018 designed to strengthen online privacy and give individuals more control over their personal information.

Can you opt out?

Although it’s not as simple as unchecking a box in your settings, there are ways you can try to avoid Facebook’s AI having your data stolen.

As required by the GDPR, Meta is allowing users to object to their information being used in this way. To do so, you can fill out a short form on Instagram’s website, which asks for the reasons you want to opt-out, along with some personal information such as your country of residence and email.

Meta says it will “review objection requests in accordance with relevant data protection laws” and will honor successful appeals “going forward”.

But, here’s the catch: despite your objections, Meta may still use your data to train its AI in certain situations, whether you use its platforms or not. This will affect you if you appear in or are mentioned in posts, photos and captions shared by Instagram and Facebook users, or in captions.

What to say when withdrawing

The targeted advertising is vague enough to make you feel like you’re falling for it, but what’s your problem with a benign AI model? Well, it might help to better understand how and when a company can use legitimate interest before you fill out your objection request.

What is a legitimate interest?

In general, a company must have a clear rationale for processing your data under the legal grounds of legitimate interest, either to prevent fraud or to improve its services. At the same time, businesses must demonstrate that data processing is necessary without a person’s consent. It is imperative that they balance their reasons with the individual privacy rights of their users. If the privacy risk is high, they cannot rely on a legitimate interest.

All this must be done with transparency in mind, and users must be given the right to object to the processing of their data.

Possible objections

So, in this specific case, a Facebook or Instagram user could express their concern about the lack of control over how their data is used in AI training. They could cite the potential for unintended consequences or misuse of data in future applications—after all, AI tools have been known to cause misinformation and even hatred in the past.

One could also argue that there is a lack of transparency in the Meta AI development process. Ask yourself: is the company clear exactly how your data is being used or what kind of AI models it contributes to?

It might be worth recommending that Meta explore other ways of collecting data, such as anonymized data or synthetic datasets for AI training, instead of relying on personal information.

After all, other companies like Google and Microsoft prioritize publicly available data for AI training over personal information. They typically require an explicit opt-out from users before incorporating their data into training processes.

What happens if your objection is rejected?

If you are not satisfied with Meta’s response to your objection, you can complain to the ICO. They can investigate Meta’s practices and may issue fines or enforcement.

Although less common, you could explore legal action against Meta if you believe the use of your data for AI training violates your privacy rights under GDPR. This route is usually for more serious cases and can be expensive, so it is recommended to consult a lawyer who specializes in data privacy.