Meta has surprised many by getting approval to use UK public posts for AI training, marking a comeback after regulatory delays.
"Key highlights:
1. Meta to use UK public posts for AI training.
2. Private messages and under-18 data excluded from training.
3. Meta faces ongoing EU data usage debates."
"Meta Platforms has received approval from British authorities to start using public posts from Facebook and Instagram for training its AI models. This follows a regulatory pause in July, which was implemented to address concerns raised by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK.
In the coming months, Meta will begin using public content—such as posts, comments, photos, and captions shared by adult users in the UK—to train its generative AI models. The aim is to make these AI models better understand British culture, history, and idioms, which Meta believes will benefit local companies and institutions by enhancing the technology they use.
The company has stated that it will not use private messages or information from users under 18. Only public content from adults will be included in the training data, in line with UK legal provisions on 'legitimate interests.'
Meta’s plans also extend to Brazil, where it has received similar approval, but discussions continue in the EU about restrictions on using European user data for AI training. Due to privacy concerns, Meta has introduced an opt-out option for EU users. Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, has criticized the EU’s strict regulations, suggesting that Europe should adopt more flexible policies to foster innovation.
For UK users who prefer not to have their data used, Meta recommends switching to private profiles. The company plans to notify UK users about these changes and their options for opting out starting next week."
