Back in 2023, European regulators fined Meta $1.3 billion for data misuse. In response, the company gave users a Generative AI Data Subject Rights Form. It allowed you to request for your information’s deletion from the platform. This year, they have returned with the same agenda and want to use your posts to train upcoming AI models.
They will use your photos, videos, captions, and other data you’ve made publicly available on the social media platform. But there’s a way to object. If you don’t want them to use your information, simply fill out the provided form, add your email address, and wait for a confirmation code that never arrives. It’s simple.
It’s weird how Meta expects a user who is already logged in to their app to confirm their identity once again and then have them go through a long process to protect their data. It almost seems deliberate, like they want to discourage you from completing it and automatically keep you in the twisted data pool.
Users are not happy with Meta, and that’s understating it. They’ve taken to Reddit, X, and other online forums to vent their frustrations. While some of them had no difficulties objecting, a large majority are still stuck figuring it out.
What’s more disturbing is that your objection needs to make sense to Meta. Otherwise, filling out the form is a waste. As YouTuber Martin Keary spotted on X, “If your objection is honoured, it will be applied going forwards.”
Meta also made the following statement:
We may still process information about you to develop and improve Al at Meta, even if you object or don’t use our Products and services.
Meta
So, if you appear or are mentioned in someone else’s posts, Meta will use that data. Its new terms may include all “products and services,” which means any app under Meta’s umbrella, including Instagram. They’re including the changes to their privacy policy, which will come into effect on June 26 this year. Basically, you have 29 days left from the date of this publishing to take action. Frankly, the options aren’t looking too good.
What’s next for Facebook users?
You could reduce the frequency of your current postings or carefully review your existing posts. In the Activity log, you’ll see all of them in one place and have the option to send them to the trash. In the worst-case scenario, scrap the account. It’s a hard call for anyone who relies on Facebook Login for different games, services, and apps, but it’s a necessary one to protect your privacy.
