[META] One…Two…Meta is Coming for You…

The Synopsis:

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has become rapacious in garnering users’ data for an ‘AI Technology’, and the data will be shared with third parties. Additionally, Meta claims that its interests supersede individuals’ protections, specifically users’ autonomy in opting into or out of the agreement. NOYB, a European agency that specializes in advocating and defending users’ privacy, has filed complaints in eleven European countries to stop Meta’s change in its privacy policy before June 26, 2024.¹

The Analysis:

How do I illustrate an insatiable monster that does not know its hunger is its demise? The more it fills itself for its ‘survival’, the worse its health becomes. Meta wants to fatten itself with users’ data, from 2007, to train its undisclosed AI technology; users, except those who are protected by the GDPR, would have their data used without control and consent. The data can be used to exacerbate well-defined harms, and since the data would be shared with third parties, users are at risk of being hacked or targeted; this is negligence to highest order, and Meta’s disregard for its users’ safety is telling of its business model. Additionally, Meta has claimed its interests override the fundamental rights of its users because it has a ‘legitimate interest’. What ‘legitimate interest’ because taking users without consent is actually an ‘illegitimate interest.’ The Court of Justice² has rejected Meta’s appeal to garner users’ data for advertisements, yet Meta is overlooking the Court’s ruling. Scarily, on June 26, 2024, Meta will remove the option to opt out its data collection for its AI technology. Fortunately, per Article 66 GDPR, eleven European countries have requested to halt Meta’s decision to make an EU decision on Meta’s policies.

Responsible AI³ is touted on Meta’s page, highlighting all of its commitments to privacy, security, fairness, inclusion, safety, transparency, and accountability; however, it is not holding itself to its proclaimed ‘values’. It seems that companies, like Meta, are showing their true colors everyday, and unfortunately, those colors do not mix. We have a voice and if you would like to petition Meta’s practices, submit your Meta AI Complaint here: https://newsletter.noyb.eu/pf/433/ycE4r

The Endnotes:

^{1 noyb, “noyb urges 11 DPAs to immediately stop Meta’s abuses of personal data for AI,” noyb, accessed Jun 8, 2024,}

https://noyb.eu/en/noyb-urges-11-dpas-immediately-stop-metas-abuse-personal-data-ai

^{2 noyb, “CJEU declares Meta/Facebook’s GDPR approach largely illegal”, “noyb”, accessed Jun 8, 2024,}

https://noyb.eu/en/cjeu-declares-metafacebooks-gdpr-approach-largely-illegal

^{3 Meta, “Driven by our belief that AI should benefit everyone”, Meta, accessed Jun 8, 2024,}

https://ai.meta.com/responsible-ai/