Social media giant will soon restart the use of public content from Facebook and Instagram to train its artificial intelligence models in the UK, following a temporary halt caused by regulatory concerns.
The company had paused the AI training in mid-June after facing a backlash from privacy regulators, including the Irish Data Protection Commission, which requested a delay in the rollout of Meta’s AI models in Europe.
The tech giant will now use public posts—such as photos, captions, and comments—shared by adult users on its platforms to develop its generative AI. However, content from private messages or from users under 18 will not be included in the training.
Meta has worked closely with Britain's Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to address concerns about user privacy, ultimately simplifying the process for users to object to their data being used and extending the time window in which they can do so.
Starting next week, Facebook and Instagram users in the UK will receive in-app notifications explaining how their public data might be used and offering them the option to opt out. Meta said that its engagement with the ICO has provided clarity, allowing the company to introduce its AI products to the UK sooner than expected.
The company’s initial plans had faced criticism from privacy advocates, including the group NOYB, which argued that Meta’s notifications did not comply with the stringent privacy requirements of the European Union.
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