Meta Stole Aussie User Data for AI with No Opt-Out Available

Select Language:

Meta is under fire for using the public posts of Australian users on Facebook and Instagram to develop its artificial intelligence without giving them an option to opt out, contrary to the situation in Europe, as reported by The Guardian.

During a recent parliamentary committee meeting, Melinda Claybaugh, Meta’s director of privacy policy, confirmed that the company has been utilizing publicly shared content from Australian users. She added that, unlike in Europe, there is currently no opt-out feature available for users in Australia.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union forced Meta to pause its AI product launches in Europe and allowed users there to decline the use of their data for AI training. This action was a response to privacy issues and compliance required by GDPR.

In stark contrast, users in Australia lack such an opt-out option, which has fueled frustration among both local lawmakers and the general public.

Senator Tony Sheldon criticized Meta, advocating for Australian users to have the same choices as their European counterparts. Meanwhile, Greens senator David Shoebridge pointed out that Australian users who have been on Facebook or Instagram since 2007 have had their public posts collected unless they took the initiative to switch their settings to private.

Claybaugh admitted that this historical data collection has taken place and stressed that future content could be safeguarded by adjusting privacy settings. However, she did not give any indication of a timeline or guarantee that an opt-out option would be made available to Australian users. This situation has sparked discussions about government action to address privacy issues and protect user rights on a global scale.

This matter highlights a growing discontent with how tech giants manage user data and comply with privacy laws.