Meta Halts AI Launch In EU, UK Over Data Protection Concerns

Meta has halted its AI launch in the EU and UK over data protection concerns.

Glamtush reports that Meta has announced that it will pause plans to start training its AI systems using data from its users in the European Union and the United Kingdom.

This online news platform understands that this decision comes in response to significant pushback from data protection authorities in both regions, the social media giant said in a blog post on Friday.

The Irish Data Protection Commission, Meta’s lead regulator in the EU, spearheaded the opposition on behalf of approximately a dozen data protection authorities across the bloc.

The DPC’s concerns centre around the potential privacy implications of using user data for AI training.

In the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office also requested that Meta halt its plans until further notice. The ICO emphasised the need for comprehensive assessments to ensure compliance with data protection laws.

“We’re disappointed by the request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), our lead regulator, on behalf of the European DPAs, to delay training our large language models (LLMs) using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram  — particularly since we incorporated regulatory feedback and the European DPAs have been informed since March,” Meta noted.

The company said the development would be a step backwards for European innovation, competition in AI development, and further delays in bringing the benefits of AI to people in Europe.

Meta has expressed confidence that its approach to AI training complies with European laws and regulations, emphasising its transparency compared to its industry counterparts.

Despite this, the company has announced it will delay the launch of Meta AI in Europe due to ongoing regulatory concerns.

Meta highlighted the importance of including local information to provide a high-quality user experience.

The company stated that without this data, the AI service would be subpar, leading to the current pause in the European rollout.

“We are committed to bringing Meta AI, along with the models that power it, to more people around the world, including in Europe. But, put simply, without including local information, we’d only be able to offer people a second-rate experience. This means we aren’t able to launch Meta AI in Europe at the moment.”

Meta reaffirmed its dedication to bringing advanced AI models to users worldwide, including Europe, once regulatory concerns are adequately addressed.