Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is pulling out all the stops when it comes to developing its own AI – and it’s going to use your public images to do it.
This raises the question: what does the future of digital privacy look like?
And what changes are being made?
And when are they being implemented?
And what can you do about it?
How Is Meta Going to Use AI?
So how will the social media giant Meta (the parent company of Instagram and Facebook) leverage AI to build its user experience?
The initiative is designed to train Meta’s AI tools using public data on context, language nuances, and user preferences to deliver the most refined and effective AI for the user and the platform. Incorporating your data into the AI design will improve your user experience, personalize content, filter harmful, fake, or inappropriate posts, and enhance security.
By using data-designed AI, Meta hopes to create more engaging, safer, and intuitive platforms for users.
What Information Will Meta AI Use?
Meta’s plan involves using various kinds of public content to train its AI models, but more specifically, it will capture the public:
- Posts: Any text content that users have posted publicly.
- Images: Photos and other visual content are shared publicly.
- Image Captions: Descriptions or comments that accompany public images.
- Comments: Public comments made on posts and images.
- Stories: Temporary content shared publicly via the stories feature.
Private messages will NOT be included in this data collection, and only content shared with a public audience by users over the age of 18 will be considered. However, users are uneasy about their public posts and images being used for AI training without explicit consent. Privacy advocates argue that while the data is public, using it for purposes other than its original intent raises ethical questions.
What Does This Mean for Your Digital Privacy?
One major concern is the potential for unintended consequences. For example, AI models trained on public data might unassumingly reinforce biases or misinterpret context, leading to inaccurate or harmful information being advocated for. The sheer volume of data being processed increases the risk of data breaches, security breaches, or data misuse.
Meta plans to begin using public posts and images for AI as of June 26, 2024, which provides users a short window to understand the changes and take any action. While Meta assures compliance with privacy laws, users still need to understand how their data will be used and have the ability to control their participation.
How to Opt-Out in 6 Steps
Users can opt-out, but the process is not as straightforward as toggling a standard setting. Users must actually exercise their “right to object” under data protection regulations. This right allows users to object to processing their personal data under certain conditions.
If you decide that you do not want your public posts and images to be used for AI training by Meta, follow these steps to opt out:
1. Log into Your Facebook or Instagram Account:
2. Access Your Privacy Settings:
- On Facebook, Click on the downward arrow at the top right corner of the page, select “Settings & Privacy,” and then click on “Settings.”
- On Instagram: Go to your profile, tap the three horizontal lines at the top right corner, and select “Settings.”
3. Navigate to the Data and Privacy Section:
- On Facebook: In the left-hand menu, select “Your Facebook Information.”
- On Instagram: Tap on “Privacy” in the settings menu.
4. Submit a Data Privacy Request:
- Look for the section related to data privacy or personal information.
- On Facebook: Select “View” next to “Access Your Information,” then look for the option to submit a privacy request or objection.
- On Instagram, you may need to visit the “Help” or “Data Download” sections to find options related to privacy requests.
5. Exercise Your Right to Object:
- Follow the instructions to submit a formal objection to processing your public data for AI training. Provide any required information and clearly state that you object to using your public posts and images for AI training purposes.
6. Confirm and Submit:
- Review your information, submit it, and wait for confirmation that your right to object was received!
Meta’s new initiative is a significant step in leveraging AI to enhance user experiences. Staying informed and exercising control over your personal information, how, when, why, and where it’s used, is crucial to the future of digital privacy.
How can you set yourself up for digital privacy, security, and success?
We’ve got something for that.
