Worries regarding data protection have emerged after Meta announced its intention to utilize users’ posts, photos, and other personal information to train its Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and services on Facebook and Instagram.
Participants on these platforms are automatically enrolled in this procedure unless they opt-out. Nevertheless, opting out entails navigating through multiple steps, prompting concerns among data privacy advocates and experts.
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Numerous users across various Meta social media platforms recently received notifications informing them that beginning June 26, the company will broaden its “AI at Meta experiences,” encompassing Meta AI and AI creative tools. The notification read: “To help bring these experiences to you, we’ll now rely on the legal basis called legitimate interests for using your information to develop and improve AI at Meta.”
Nevertheless, the message clarifies that users retain the option to object to the utilization of their information for these objectives. Additionally, it specifies that if their objection is acknowledged, it will be implemented in subsequent instances.
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To express objection, users must click the link provided in the notification and complete a form detailing their reasons for disagreeing with the use of their data in this manner. Subsequently, they need to check their email for a confirmation code to finalize their objection.
Simon McGarr, a solicitor and director of Data Compliance Europe, remarked:
Presently, they are presenting a consent form. However, the form doesn’t explicitly state, ‘yes, I approve.’ Instead, it requires users to fill in the form if they do not approve, making it an opt-out form.
Unless users expressly consent to the legitimate use of their data by completing the form, I don’t believe it’s valid. Data within Meta and Facebook likely includes a mixture of known, personal, and sensitive personal data. Processing sensitive personal data based on legitimate interest is not permissible.