Meta has paralyzed its project to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models with Facebook and Instagram posts in the European Union and the European Economic Area, according to The American company announced this Friday. The Irish Data Protection Authority (DPC) had previously asked Mark Zuckerberg’s company to take this step. Facebook and Instagram users were informed last month that, starting June 26, their data would be used to train the tech giant’s AI models.
lThe Irish data agency has celebrated “with satisfaction” Meta’s decision in a statement published on its website: “This decision has been made after intense negotiation between the DPC and Meta,” the agency explains. “The DPC, in cooperation with the EU data protection authorities, will continue to collaborate with Meta on this matter.”
The DPC welcomes the decision by Meta to pause its plans to train its large language model using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram across the EU/EEA. This decision followed intensive engagement between the DPC and Meta.
Read 👉 https://t.co/VkMpdqgcmD pic.twitter.com/IzkF4syVm1
— Data Protection Commission Ireland (@DPCIreland) June 14, 2024
For your part Meta has said, in a statement: “We are disappointed by the request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), our main regulator, on behalf of European DPAs, to delay the training of our large language models (LLM) using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram, especially as we have incorporated regulatory comments and European DPAs have been informed since March. “This is a setback for European innovation, competition in AI development and further delays the benefit of AI for people in Europe.”
The company explains that it remains “very confident” that its approach “complies with European laws and regulations. AI training is not exclusive to our services, and we are more transparent than many of our competitors in the industry. “We will continue to work in collaboration with the DPC so that people in Europe have access to the same level of AI innovation as the rest of the world and receive an appropriate service,” the company adds.
He continues: “We are committed to bringing Meta AI, along with the models that power it, to more people around the world, including Europe. But simply put, without including local information, we would only be able to offer people a second-rate experience. This means that, at the moment, we cannot launch Meta AI in Europe.”
Meta’s announcement that it wanted to use user content to train its AI had caused rejection among users who were most jealous of their privacy, who refused to let a private company train its models based on their texts and images. Users of Facebook and Instagram, the technology company’s star social networks, had received a message informing them that, starting June 26, their data will be used to train the company’s AI models. A wave of posts was generated on Instagram, and also on X, from users who refused to use it, and how to block the company from doing so went viral.
The company now assures: “We will continue to work in collaboration with the DPC so that people in Europe have access to the same level of AI innovation as the rest of the world and receive an adequate service. “This delay will also allow us to address specific requests we have received from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), our UK regulator, before commencing training.”
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