Today’s news / Meta pauses AI initiatives in EU after objections
Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, postpones plans to use text and images that its users have posted to train artificial intelligence. (Archive photo). Photo: Lionel Bonaventure/Ritzau Scanpix

Meta pauses AI initiatives in EU after objections

Meta has delayed plans to train artificial intelligence using user data in Europe following criticism from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DDBPC), acting for European authorities. The company is disappointed by the DPC’s request to stop these plans, asserting that its approach aligns with European laws, despite previously incorporating official feedback since March. Last week, the European privacy organization Noyb criticized Meta in 11 countries, demanding user consent for data use under GDPR. The DPC welcomed Meta’s decision to halt its AI training plans in the EU. The intended training materials included texts, images, and messages uploaded by Facebook and Instagram users, but not private messages from Messenger. Meta’s aim is to build an AI capable of text and image generation, similar to tech developed by Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.