Due to Irish request, Meta stops using its AI models in Europe

A US social media company called Meta Platforms has been ordered by Irish data protection authorities to stop collecting user data from Facebook and Instagram.

The Irish Data Protection Authority has ordered Meta Platforms (META.O.), a US-based social media company, to delay its intention to collect data from Facebook and Instagram users. As a result, the company will not launch its Meta AI models in Europe for the time being. Following complaints, advocacy group NOYB called on data protection authorities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain to take action against the company. This prompted Meta to take this action.

Meta’s intention to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models on personal data without permission is questionable, although the company has said it will only use material that is publicly available and licensed online. On Friday, Meta announced that Ireland’s Data Protection Commission had asked the company to delay using public content from adult Facebook and Instagram users to train its large language models (LLMs). “We are disappointed by the request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), our lead regulator, on behalf of European data protection authorities, particularly as we have incorporated the regulator’s feedback and European data protection authorities have been aware since March,” the company said.

It has been claimed that the Irish request is of course a reversal of European competition and innovation in AI development. Simply put, if we do not incorporate local information, we could only provide people with a mediocre experience. This suggests that Meta AI cannot be launched in Europe now,” Meta explained. The DPC praised Meta’s delay, saying it was the result of extensive consultations with the regulator. According to Meta, the delayed release of its AI models will also allow it to respond to requests from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) praised Meta’s move, saying it would keep an eye on large generative AI companies like Meta to assess the security measures they put in place and ensure UK consumers’ right to privacy is respected. Max Schrems, the chair of NOYB, linked Meta’s brief suspension to the complaints the organisation filed last week. “To date, there has been no formal change to Meta’s privacy policy that would bind this promise. In a statement, he said: “The cases we have filed are ongoing and require a decision.”

also read: Unveiling the Ethical Imperatives: Mastering the Interface Between AI and Cybersecurity

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