Say yes to say no. Thus is summarized the latest novelty that comes from Meta, and it is known that the big tech make everything to make us feel involved with the goal then to use us disguised as sensitive data. So here is that the news that Mark Zuckerberg’s company will also begin in Europe to train its artificial intelligence thanks to our interactions with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, contains the paradox referred to at the beginning: we can oppose, but we must say it clearly. Otherwise it is as if we had accepted the inexorable. In practice: to feed its Meta Ai model, the company will use a huge amount of data, including those generated by users on its platforms. He already does it in the United States, but here he had to wait twelve months to align with the EU regulations on privacy, mainly to that on the protection of personal data called GDPR. We, as mentioned, can oppose. But how?
Because destination uses data for the AI
Meta announced that the content publicly shared by users – posts, photos with captions, comments, profile information and other data – can be used to “improve its artificial intelligence models”. The only exceptions are the chat deposits of WhatsApp and the data of the minors of 18 years of age. This means that the interactions on Facebook and Instagram can help to train the algorithms of generative, such as those that create text, images or automated responses.
This treatment, however, does not happen completely arbitrary: in Europe, thanks to the GDPR, users have precise rights, including the right to opposition. That is, those who reside in the European Union, in the European Economic Space (See) or in Switzerland have the right to submit a request against the use of its data for training purposes AI. In this sense, it is important to know why: even public contents can contain personal data, and for this reason the legislation allows you to exercise a right of opposition.
What can be asked for in Meta and how to make the request
According to the EU standards, it can be requested that Meta does not use personal data to train the models of AI, limits or ceases the processing of public content for the purposes of AI; Provide clear information on which data is used, for what purposes, and with what legal bases.
Meta has prepared a specific online form for the request for opposition to the use of personal data for the AI. The procedure is relatively simple but must be followed carefully.
- Enter the official page. The module is available on the “Meta Assistance Center” at this address: www.facebook.com/help/contact/ (or you can search for Google: destination for the opposition personal data module)
- Fill in the form. It will be asked to indicate: the country of residence (to confirm that it is subject to the GDPR legislation); Name and surname; The email address associated with the account. Meta also requires a verification of identity, via email or with a verification code, to prevent thirds from making requests on behalf of other users.
- Wait for confirmation. Once the request is sent, Meta must develop it in compliance with the European legislation. Generally the answer comes within 30 days, even if the times may vary. If the opposition is accepted, personal data will no longer be used to train the AI models.
What happens if the request is not sent?
If the right to opposition is not exercised, the company can continue to use public content to feed its artificial intelligence. This means that phrases, images, comments and other public interactions could potentially end up in the datasets used to develop automatic content generation systems. Such as chatbots or tools for creating images AI. Warning: even if Meta says he “anonymizing” the data, the risk that a specific person is never completely nullified.
Alternatives to formal request
In addition to presenting opposition, there are some practical precautions that can be adopted to limit the use of data. Basic behavior rules that all users of the web and social networks should adopt (but which many ignore, deliberately or not), or:
- Check the privacy of posts by limiting the visibility of content only to friends or restricted groups;
- Avoid publishing sensitive data (names of children, addresses, medical information);
- Consult the privacy settings on Facebook and Instagram profiles regularly;
- Consider the possibility of eliminating old public posts that may have already been acquired for AI purposes.
In short: submit a request for
Opposition is simple and free, and represents an important gesture for the protection of one’s digital rights. But say yes to say no is not enough, if we are not to this we do not add a little healthy digital prudence.