Meta Platforms is currently facing significant backlash across the European Union over its recent privacy policy changes that allow the company to use personal data for training its artificial intelligence (AI) models without obtaining user consent. This controversy has prompted the privacy advocacy group None of Your Business (NYOB) to file 11 complaints on June 5, targeting Meta’s proposed data usage changes.
The complaints, lodged in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Spain, argue that Meta’s new policy, set to take effect on June 26, could potentially violate stringent European Union privacy regulations. According to NYOB, the changes would enable Meta to utilize years of personal posts, private images, and online tracking data for its AI technology without explicit user consent.
NYOB has called on national privacy watchdogs across these 11 countries to take immediate action and launch an urgent review of Meta’s policy changes. The advocacy group is urging these data protection authorities to halt the implementation of Meta’s new privacy policy to safeguard user privacy and ensure compliance with EU regulations.
This development underscores the ongoing tension between major tech companies and privacy advocates over data usage and consent. As Meta seeks to advance its AI capabilities, it must navigate the complex regulatory landscape of the EU, where user privacy is rigorously protected. The outcome of these complaints could have significant implications for Meta’s operations in Europe and the broader debate on data privacy in the digital age.