Viral Instagram Post Misleads Users Regarding Meta Data Usage
An Instagram story that has been shared nearly 550,000 times falsely claims that users can prevent Meta from using their personal information by reposting a specific statement. The viral post asserts that users need to share a copy-and-paste message to opt out of Meta’s data usage policies. The message has gained notoriety, being shared by high-profile celebrities including Julianne Moore, Sarah Paulson, and James McAvoy.
The misleading message reads: “Goodbye Meta AI. Please note an attorney has advised us to put this on, failure to do so may result in legal consequences. As Meta is now a public entity all members must post a similar statement. If you do not post at least once it will be assumed you are okay with them using your information and photos. I do not give Meta or anyone else permission to use any of my personal data, profile information or photos.”
However, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has flagged this post as containing false information. Posts containing this message are now obscured by a notice stating that the text contains “false information,” requiring users to click ‘see post’ to view it. Third-party fact-checkers, including Lead Stories, have verified that sharing this text does not alter Meta's terms and conditions.
Meta’s data usage policies, updated on June 26, 2023, allow the company to use posts, images, and other online tracking data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) systems, including its AI large language model, LLaMa 3. This AI technology powers Meta AI, a smart assistant designed to offer functionalities similar to ChatGPT. Meta ensures that photos and texts posted on Instagram and Facebook are utilised to train its AI models but clarifies that private posts and direct messages are not included in this training.
For European users, Meta provides a legitimate way to object to this data usage, which can be done through settings in their Facebook or Instagram accounts. Users can navigate to the Meta Privacy Center, select ‘data settings,’ and manage their ‘off-Facebook activity’ and ‘AI model training.’ This option to object was made available in June.
The European privacy advocacy group, NOYB (None Of Your Business), has taken legal action against Meta, alleging that the company’s data processing practices violate the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Max Schrems of NOYB stressed that Meta’s broad usage of data under the guise of 'AI technology' contradicts GDPR’s requirements.
Statistics reveal that a significant number of users often agree to terms and conditions without reading them thoroughly. A 2017 study indicated that 91% of consumers typically accept these terms without review.
For those wishing to take preventive measures against such data usage practices, it's advisable to directly use the provided settings and tools rather than relying on misleading viral posts.
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Source: Noah Wire Services