https://mashable.com/article/meta-using-posts-train-ai-opt-out Amazon Prime Day Tech Science Life Social Good Entertainment Deals Shopping Travel [ ] Search Cancel * * Search Result ----------------------------------------------------------------- Amazon Prime Day Tech Apps & Software Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Cryptocurrency Mobile Smart Home Social Media Tech Industry Transportation All Tech Science Space Climate Change Environment Video All Science Life Digital Culture Family & Parenting Health & Wellness Sex, Dating & Relationships Sleep Careers Mental Health All Life Social Good Activism Gender LGBTQ Racial Justice Sustainability Politics All Social Good Entertainment Games Movies Podcasts TV Shows Video Reviews Watch Guides All Entertainment SHOP THE BEST Home Tech Kitchen Fitness Sex Toys Apps & Software Dating Gift Guides Mashable Choice Mashable Selects Gaming All Best Products Travel Deals Best of All Travel Product Reviews Tech Life Beauty Tech Kitchen Kids/Toys Gaming Fitness Sex Toys Apps & Software All Product Reviews DEALS Home Tech TV Laptop VPN Vacuum Gaming Streaming Apple Mashable Shop All Deals Newsletters VIDEOS Mashable Shows All Videos Home > Tech Meta is using your posts to train AI. It's not easy to opt out. Your Facebook and Instagram posts are a buffet of data for hungry AI models. By Cecily Mauran on May 30, 2024 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp icons on a smartphone screen The Meta AI models are hungry for your data. Credit: picture alliance / Getty Images --------------------------------------------------------------------- Meta's AI models are trained on your posts. But there are ways to limit what you share. The company's data sharing practices caught people's attention recently after a Facebook notification was sent to users in Europe informing them about an update to the privacy policy as Meta rolls out new generative AI features in the region. On a separate page, Meta's generative AI privacy policy says it uses "information shared on Meta's Products and services," including "things like posts or photos and their captions" to train its AI models. It does not use private messages for training data. SEE ALSO: Meta's new AI tools will get you shopping even more on Instagram A Meta spokesperson said the company is "notifying people consistent with our obligations under local privacy laws" which is presumably to comply with GDPR laws in Europe. According to the notification received by UK-based user Philip Bloom, the changes go into effect on June 26, 2024. Users in the U.S. did not receive a notification, but based on Meta's data sharing policy, it seems to already be in effect. Meta has been deploying generative AI features since September 2023. It started with the ability to tag the Meta AI chatbot in conversations on Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and chat with "AI personas" which are characters based on licensed celebrity likenesses including Snoop Dogg, Charli D'Amelio and Kendall Jenner. More recently, Meta expanded its AI-powered features by making Meta AI the default search bar on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp and enabling users to chat with the AI about specific posts. Unfortunately for many who found this irksome, you can't turn it off. UK and EU based users have a "right to object," meaning they can opt out of sharing their data to train Meta's AI models. That said, it's a tedious process that seems deliberately difficult to navigate. "I'm legit shocked by the design of @Meta's new notification informing us they want to use the content we post to train their AI models," said X user Tantacrul who detailed the many steps required. "It's intentionally designed to be highly awkward in order to minimise the number of users who will object to it." Tweet may have been deleted How to opt out of sharing your data with Meta AI models The only way to truly cut off your data from Meta is to delete your accounts. But there are a few different methods for limiting how much data you share. Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. [ ] Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! When we tried clicking on the opt-out link we were shown a message saying the option was only available to people in certain regions. Another link discovered by PCWorld sent us to a Meta help center page where you can submit a request to access, delete, or file a complaint about personal information "from third parties being used to develop and improve AI at Meta." To fill out the form, you're given three options related to third party data being used for "improving AI at Meta": * "Access, download or correct any personal information from third parties used for building and improving AI at Meta" * "Delete any personal information from third parties used for building and improving AI at Meta" * "Submit a concern about my personal information from third parties that's related to a response I received from an AI at Meta model, feature or experience" You'll notice that there's no explicit mention of opting out of sharing your data with the models. The options are narrow and relate specifically to third parties. The form also says request aren't automatically fulfilled; Meta will review your request based on local laws. So users in the EU or UK that fall under stricter privacy laws might have an easier time deleting or accessing their data. screenshot of a data form showing options for submitting a request to Meta These are the only options available for submitting requests related to sharing your personal information with Meta AI. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Meta Once you've chosen the relevant option, Meta then requires you to fill out your country of residence, name, email, and specific evidence explaining why you're submitting your request. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Stories --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Meta AI: The new ChatGPT rival was trained on your sh*tposts * Meta AI, AI celebrities, and everything else 'AI-ified' at Meta Connect 2023 * I tested Rabbit R1 vs. Meta AI: The winning AI assistant will surprise you * How to unblock Imagine with Meta AI for free screenshot of Meta data form requiring evidence of a response that generated personal information Users are required to submit specific evidence in order to request personal data being removed. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Meta The form asks you to submit "any prompts you entered that generated a response that included your personal information" or upload a screenshot of the response. So essentially, you're required to give a specific example of why you wish to delete your data and even then, Meta might not fulfill the request. How to disable "activity off Meta" Another way to protect your data from being used by Meta may be via your "activity off Meta" settings. On this page, you can see sites and apps that share information with Meta. You can choose to disconnect specific sites that share data with Meta, clear previous activity, and manage future data sharing. screenshot of activity off meta settings with options to disconnect, clear, and manage future settings of information shared with Meta In this setting you can see third parties that share information with Meta. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Meta Disconnecting and clearing previous data activity will delete data already collected by Meta. But to prevent data from being shared with third parties in the future, choose "Manage future activity" and select "Disconnect future activity." So now, you've cleared your activity history and prevented future data from being shared with third parties. screenshot of Meta settings page to disable future activity from being shared with third parties Here you can block Meta from receiving information about you from third parties. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Meta That said, it's unclear how that impacts data used to train Meta's AI models. Meta's privacy settings are largely related to sharing with third parties, which doesn't address how Meta uses your data internally. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a good start to reclaiming your privacy. We've reached out to Meta for further clarification and will update this story if we received a response. Topics Artificial Intelligence Meta Mashable Image Cecily Mauran Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on Twitter at @cecily_mauran. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommended For You Thousands of explicit AI 'girlfriend' ads found on Meta platforms These ads appear to violate Meta's adult content advertising policy. 04/28/2024 By Anna Iovine meta logo seen through a magnifying glass meta logo seen through a magnifying glass --------------------------------------------------------------------- Drone footage shows the devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul The worst floods the country's southernmost state has seen in at least 80 years. 05/10/2024 By Teodosia Dobriyanova Drone footage shows an urban road submerged under water. Caption reads: "Devastating floods" Drone footage shows an urban road submerged under water. Caption reads: "Devastating floods" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Netflix's 'Sweet Tooth' trailer teases fantasy series' final season Kelly Marie Tran has joined the cast for the show's final season, and she looks like a badass. 05/22/2024 By Amanda Yeo The cast of 'Sweet Tooth.' The cast of 'Sweet Tooth.' --------------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft risks billions in fines as EU investigates its generative AI disclosures Reluctance to expose Bing's AI problems may lead to billions of lost dollars. 05/17/2024 By Chase DiBenedetto The OpenAI and Microsoft logos projected on a shiny black wall. The OpenAI and Microsoft logos projected on a shiny black wall. --------------------------------------------------------------------- A batch of updates from Meta puts AI front and center when you use its apps Meta AI is now powered by Llama 3. 04/18/2024 By Cecily Mauran Meta logo on a smartphone in front of a background that reads AI Meta logo on a smartphone in front of a background that reads AI --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trending on Mashable In case you missed it: Bank info-stealing malware found in 90+ Android apps with 5.5M installs The apps identified have since been removed from Google Play, but make sure you didn't install one. 05/31/2024 By Cecily Mauran unauthorized credit card alert on an android screen unauthorized credit card alert on an android screen --------------------------------------------------------------------- NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for June 1 Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #356. 21 hours ago By Mashable Team A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' --------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for June 1 Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer to "Wordle" #1078. 20 hours ago By Mashable Team a phone displaying Wordle a phone displaying Wordle --------------------------------------------------------------------- NYT's The Mini crossword answers for June 1 Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need. 9 hours ago By Mashable Team Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues --------------------------------------------------------------------- NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 31 Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #355. 05/31/2024 By Mashable Team A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox. [ ] Loading... Subscribe This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox! * TECH * SCIENCE * LIFE * SOCIAL GOOD * ENTERTAINMENT * BEST PRODUCTS * DEALS * About Mashable * Contact Us * We're Hiring * Newsletters * Sitemap * * * * * * * * * Group Black Mashable supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership. Group Black's collective includes Essence, TheShadeRoom and Afro-Punk. (c)2005-2024 Mashable, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. All Rights Reserved. Mashable is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without express written permission. * About Ziff Davis * Privacy Policy * Terms of Use * Advertise * Accessibility * Do Not Sell My Personal Information * * ZiffDavis AdChoicesAdChoices