You’ve probably seen the “Goodbye Meta AI” message making its rounds on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. It’s being shared by celebrities like James McAvoy, Ashley Tisdale, and Tom Brady, as well as hundreds of thousands of everyday users. The post claims to protect your account from being used as a training ground for artificial intelligence. But what’s the real deal behind this viral message, and does it work?
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has stirred up controversy by announcing its plans to use public posts from UK users to train its AI technology. This move has sparked privacy concerns, especially as it conflicts with EU privacy laws. In response, many users are sharing the “Goodbye Meta AI” message, thinking it’s a way to opt-out.
The Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK recently stepped in, stating that they will keep an eye on Meta’s AI experiment. Meanwhile, privacy advocates accuse Meta of turning users into “unpaid test subjects” for its AI development. But here’s the catch—posting the viral message won’t change anything.
Related: Meta to start using public posts on Facebook, Instagram to train AI
Meta has made it clear that simply sharing this post doesn’t count as a valid opt-out. Just like previous legal-sounding posts that claimed to protect your content or privacy, this one is a hoax. In 2012, similar posts circulated, claiming to safeguard users’ Instagram content. Fact-checking website Snopes debunked it, pointing out that such posts are based on a mistaken belief that a simple statement could shield you from legal consequences. Unfortunately, the law doesn’t work that way.
According to Meta-aligned fact-checkers, the recent iteration of the message first appeared on September 1st as part of a hoax. The text may have changed slightly, but the core claim remains the same: posting a statement can supposedly prevent Meta from using your data. Some posts even reference advice from a “lawyer” and claim that if you don’t post it, Meta will assume you’ve permitted to use your photos and data. Snopes reports that these types of posts have been around since the early 2000s, with some even citing fictitious laws like “code 431.322.12 of the Internet Privacy Act.” As much as we’d all like to believe posting a message could protect our data, it’s just not how it works.
If you’re in the UK, yes—Meta will use publicly available content from your accounts to train its AI technology, though they have promised not to use private posts. So, if you’ve been sharing Instagram stories or posting on Facebook, your content could be part of Meta’s AI training dataset.
If you’re concerned about Meta using your data, there is an official way to opt out. Meta has said it will honor objection forms filled out by users. In the coming days, all UK-based adult users on Facebook and Instagram will receive a notification with a link to this form. Unlike the viral post, filling out the form is a legitimate way to ensure your data isn’t used for AI training.
Related: Meta AI Scraping: How to Opt Out
The rise of artificial intelligence technology has led to more companies, including Meta, using AI for business. The development of artificial intelligence often requires vast amounts of data, and companies specializing in AI, like Meta, see platforms like Facebook and Instagram as a valuable source of training material. As AI continues to grow, so does the need for transparency and data privacy.
For businesses using AI, staying updated on the latest developments in AI and understanding how AI works is crucial. The balance between innovation and privacy will likely remain a hot topic in artificial intelligence news.
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