• Meta will use interactions from its AI and public posts for training models in the EU.
• Users will receive notifications and an option to opt out of data usage.
• Data from users under 18 and private messages will not be utilized for training.
• The rollout in Europe was delayed due to stringent privacy regulations.

Meta Platforms announced on April 14 that it will leverage user interactions with its AI, along with public posts and comments from adults across its platforms, to train its AI models within the European Union. This development follows a delayed launch of Meta AI in Europe, initially slated for June 2024, which faced regulatory concerns regarding data protection and privacy, according to Channel News Asia.

The company emphasized that EU users on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp would start receiving notifications detailing the types of data being collected for AI training. Additionally, users will be provided with a link to a form allowing them to object to the utilization of their data for these purposes. Notably, data from users under the age of 18 and private messages will be excluded from this process, as reported by Le Monde.

Meta's cautious approach has been shaped by the EU's strict privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which impose substantial restrictions on how personal data can be used. After prompting from Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the company paused its plans to harness user data last June, reflecting the complexity of navigating these regulatory environments, according to Reuters.

As part of this initiative, Meta aims to significantly invest in AI technologies, asserting that developing large language models requires extensive data resources. The company is expected to allocate approximately $60-65 billion this year for AI development and necessary infrastructure, highlighting the importance of AI in its long-term strategy, according to Le Monde.