Meta has “paused” its AI data collection efforts in Europe following a request from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC). The tech giant expressed disappointment over the regulatory request, made due to concerns about Meta’s use of users’ personal data from photos, comments, and other public content to train its new AI systems.
Regulatory Concerns and Temporary Suspension
Meta will temporarily suspend its EU-based AI data collection process, which involves analyzing and recording content from adult users to create a large language model (LLM) used for developing AI responses to user queries and prompts. The DPC welcomed Meta’s decision, stating, “The DPC welcomes the decision by Meta to pause its plans to train its large language model using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram across the EU and EEA.”
Meta and Ongoing Engagement with DPC
The DPC highlighted that the decision followed intensive engagement between the regulatory body and Meta. The DPC, in cooperation with other EU data protection authorities, will continue to engage with Meta on this issue. This regulatory decision is seen as a setback for Meta, which is competing with companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic in the booming AI sector.
Impact on Meta and Broader Industry
Meta currently has a large language model called Llama, which is in its third version. They have already developed the AI data collection for Llama outside the EU. This move by Meta may also prompt Google and OpenAI, which collect personal data in the EU to train their models, to reconsider their data collection strategies.
Privacy Campaigner’s Involvement
The halt in Meta’s AI data collection plans follows a complaint from privacy campaigner Max Schrems, a long-time Meta adversary. In his request to multiple European regulators, Schrems argued that they needed to challenge Meta’s legal basis for collecting personal data. “Meta is basically saying that it can use any data from any source for any purpose and make it available to anyone in the world, as long as it’s done via AI technology,” Schrems said. “This is clearly the opposite of GDPR compliance.”
Apple’s Engagement with DPC
Separately, Apple contacted the DPC regarding its ‘Apple Intelligence’ AI plans unveiled at the tech giant’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). A DPC spokesperson stated, “Apple informed the DPC of the announcements and anticipated timelines for delivery of these products. Apple also confirmed that it will engage with the DPC more substantively on specific products at the appropriate time.”
Meta’s temporary suspension of AI data collection in Europe underscores the growing regulatory scrutiny tech companies face over their data practices and the need for compliance with data protection laws.
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