Meta to train its AI with public content from EU users amid privacy concerns

In April 2025, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, initiated a process to train its artificial intelligence systems using public content from its users in the European Union (EU). This approach follows a series of delays and pushback from European privacy regulators, particularly the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), that had previously stalled the rollout due to concerns over user privacy. Starting this week, users in the EU began receiving notifications regarding the data that Meta plans to collect for training purposes, which includes public posts and comments. Users have the option to object to their data being utilized for AI training, and they can also change their decision later on. However, private messages and the accounts of users under the age of 18 are exempt from being used in this manner. Meta emphasized that it aims to develop AI technologies that cater specifically to the European audience, capturing the unique complexities and nuances of the region. The implementation of this AI training comes after years of negotiations and revisions to its data usage policies, demonstrating Meta's efforts to comply with EU regulations while advancing its AI capabilities. The DPC stated it would monitor the rollout of Meta’s AI chatbot closely as it is made available to users.