Fu Yun Chi
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:) received 11 complaints on Thursday over proposed changes that would see it use personal data to train its artificial intelligence models without asking for consent, which could breach European Union privacy rules.
Advocacy group NOYB (None of Your Business) called on national privacy watchdogs to immediately take action and stop such use, saying recent changes to Meta’s privacy policy, which take effect June 26, will allow it to use years of private messages, private images or online tracking data of its artificial intelligence technology.
NOYB has already filed several complaints against Meta and other big tech companies over alleged violations of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which threatens fines of up to 4% of a company’s total global turnover for violations.
Meta has stated a legitimate interest in using user data to train and develop its generative AI models and other AI tools that can be shared with third parties.
NOYB founder Max Schrems said in a statement that Europe’s highest court has already ruled on the issue in 2021.
“The European Court of Justice (CJEU) has already made it clear that Meta has no “legitimate interest” to override users’ right to data protection when it comes to advertising,” he said.
“However, the company is trying to use the same arguments to teach undefined “artificial intelligence technology.” It appears that Meta is once again clearly ignoring the decisions of the CJEU,” said Schrems, adding that it was extremely difficult to back out.
“Putting responsibility on the user is completely absurd. The law requires Meta to obtain consent to participate, rather than providing a hidden and misleading opt-out form,” Schrems said, adding: “If Meta wants to use your data, they are forced to ask your permission. Instead, they forced users to ask for an exception.”
NOYB has asked the data protection authorities of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain to initiate an urgent procedure due to the imminent changes.