Meta used public user posts to train AI without explicit prior consent
Meta began using publicly posted data from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users to train its Meta AI system without obtaining explicit prior consent. Users were given a short window to object through opt-out mechanisms embedded in privacy settings rather than through prominent notifications.
What happened
Meta gave users until 27 May 2025 to object to their publicly posted data being used to develop and improve Meta AI through online forms accessible only in privacy settings.
Meta did not place prominent notifications on users' walls but instead embedded the information in privacy settings that users had to navigate to discover.
Reported impact
Meta began using publicly available posts and information from Facebook, Instagram and other services to train AI systems from 27 May 2025.
Objections submitted after 26 May would only apply to future content, not existing public posts.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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