On Friday, 13 September 2024, Meta announced its plans to commence training its artificial intelligence (AI) models using public content shared by adults on its Facebook and Instagram platforms in the UK. However, the press release confirmed that private messages and data from individuals under the age of 18 would not be used for AI training.
Meta explained that the plan will ensure its generative AI models reflect Britain's cultural nuances and history and will provide UK-based companies and organisations with access to its cutting-edge technology.
Meta revealed that it had engaged with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and praised the regulator for its constructive feedback, which it claimed such "clarity and certainty will help us bring AI at Meta products to the UK much sooner."
Meta also confirmed that UK customers would receive in-app notifications over the coming weeks outlining its AI training process, including how users can opt out.
In a statement responding to the news, Stephen Almond, Executive Director of Regulatory Risk at the ICO, said: "In June, Meta paused its plans to use Facebook and Instagram user data to train generative AI in response to a request from the ICO. It has since made changes to its approach, including making it simpler for users to object to the processing and providing them with a longer window to do so. Meta has now taken the decision to resume its plans and we will monitor the situation as Meta moves to inform UK users and commence processing in the coming weeks.
"We have been clear that any organisation using its users' information to train generative AI models needs to be transparent about how people's data is being used. Organisations should put effective safeguards in place before they start using personal data for model training, including providing a clear and simple route for users to object to the processing. The ICO has not provided regulatory approval for the processing and it is for Meta to ensure and demonstrate ongoing compliance."
A separate statement responding to the ICO, Mariano delli Santi, Legal and Policy Officer at the Open Rights Group (ORG), said: "Once again, the ICO has failed to stand up for the data rights of Meta users in the UK. Making the opt-out process simpler is an inadequate response to these intrusive proposals to ingest the posts, pictures, videos and comments of over 50 million Facebook and Instagram users.
"The ICO has a legal duty to investigate complaints, yet they have decided to ignore Open Rights Group complaint. By omitting to act upon our complaint, the ICO is taking the sides of Meta's commercial interests rather than the rights of the British public. Meta's plans remain on hold in Europe. We call on the ICO to respond to our complaint and explain how these proposals comply with the UK GDPR."
Elsewhere, Austrian privacy and digital rights group NOYB told The Guardian that they were "alarmed at the plans."
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