Brazilian authority suspends Meta’s privacy policy for AI and demands adjustment

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil’s data protection agency (ANPD) has decided to suspend the validity of Meta’s new privacy policy on the use of personal data to train generative artificial intelligence systems in the country with immediate effect.

The ANPD’s preventive measure was published in the Brazilian Official Gazette on Tuesday and suspends the processing of personal data in all meta-products, including those of people who are not users of the tech giant’s platforms.

The agency, a subdivision of the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, imposed a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,836.58) for non-compliance.

The ANPD justified its decision with the “immediate risk of serious and irreparable or difficult to repair damage to the fundamental rights of the holders concerned”.

Meta must adapt its privacy policy and exclude the section on the processing of personal data for the training of generative AI, the Brazilian authority said. Meta must also provide an official statement declaring that it has suspended the processing of personal data for this purpose.

Meta said in a statement that it was “disappointed” with the ANPD’s decision, adding that the move represented a “setback for innovation” and would delay the benefits of AI for the Brazilian population.

“We are more transparent than many players in this industry who have used public content to train their models and products,” Meta said. “Our approach complies with data protection laws and regulations in Brazil.”

(1 USD = 5.6583 Reals)

(Reporting by Paula Arend Laier; Editing by Anil D’Silva)