Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Meta pauses AI plans in Europe after privacy complaints
Vienna, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2024
Meta has paused plans to use personal data to train its artificial intelligence technology in Europe, Ireland's regulator said Friday, after the social media giant was hit with privacy complaints.

Last week, a Vienna-based privacy campaign group filed complaints in 11 European countries against Meta, saying the global tech giant's planned privacy policy change would allow "unlawful" use of personal data to train an "undefined" type of current and future AI technology.

The complaints brought by the European Center for Digital Rights -- also known as Noyb ("None of Your Business") -- followed a recent announcement by Meta in which it informed its European users of a change in its privacy policy from June 26.

The group said it found out that Meta planned to use all public and non-public user data that it has collected since 2007 for the AI technology.

Through the complaints, the group asked data protection authorities in the 11 European countries to stop Meta's new privacy policy before it enters into force in late June and fully investigate it.

In a statement on Friday, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) said it "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," the DPC said, adding that it would continue to engage with Meta on this issue together with its fellow EU data protection authorities.

"We welcome this development, but will monitor this closely. So far there is no official change of the Meta privacy policy, which would make this commitment legally binding," Noyb founder Max Schrems said in a statement.

"The cases we filed are ongoing and will need a determination," he added.

Noyb has launched several legal cases against technology giants, often prompting action from regulatory authorities.

The group began working in 2018 with the advent of the EU's landmark General Data Protection Regulation.

bur-kym/imm

Meta


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Rare Trans Neptunian Object Reveals Unexpected Orbital Dance with Neptune
7 Must-Read Astronautics Books for Future Aerospace Engineers
York to Acquire Operations to Boost Ground Connectivity and Mission Delivery

24/7 Energy News Coverage
Framatome opens advanced additive manufacturing hub in France
Framatome to supply nuclear fuel for Barakah plant boosting UAE energy security
Solestial to Accelerate Space Solar Array Production with $12M SpaceWERX Contract

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
Germany seeks US guarantee before sending Patriots to Ukraine
Space Force general to oversee U.S. 'Golden Dome' missile shield
China says raised 'solemn representations' with EU over Russia sanctions

24/7 News Coverage
Alien life clues may emerge from deep sea volcanic vents on Earth
ICJ to hand down watershed climate opinion
Japan's Hokkaido sizzles as heat stroke alerts issued


All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.