Facebook is asking to use Meta AI on photos you haven’t yet shared (theverge.com)

Article summary

Facebook is testing a feature that asks users to opt-in to 'cloud processing', which allows the company to access and analyze their private, unpublished photos from their camera roll. The feature is intended to generate suggestions for content sharing, but the company's AI usage terms do not provide clarity on whether these photos will be used to train AI models. Meta claims that the feature is currently not training AI models with these photos, but the company's history of data scraping and lack of transparency raises concerns. Users can opt-out of the feature and remove their unpublished photos from the cloud after 30 days.

Main themes

• Facebook data collection
• AI model training
• user privacy
• ad targeting
• government surveillance
• alternative platforms
• data regulation

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that Facebook's actions are egregious and that the company cannot be trusted with user data, while others argue that users have the choice to opt-out or use alternative platforms.
• The use of ADB to disable pre-installed Facebook and Instagram apps is seen as a viable solution by some, but others point out that this requires technical expertise that most users lack.
• There are concerns that the data collected by Facebook could be used for ad targeting or even shared with government agencies, highlighting the need for greater transparency and regulation.
• Some argue that deleting Facebook or using alternative platforms is not enough to protect user privacy, as the company can still collect data through other means, such as friends and family posting about them.
• Others believe that taking steps to protect user privacy, such as using restricted app sandboxes or granular controls over library access, is still important and can make a difference.
• The lack of clarity in Facebook's AI usage terms and the company's history of data scraping have led some to distrust the company's claims that it is not currently training AI models with private photos.
• Some commenters suggest that using alternative operating systems, such as LineageOS, or buying phones that do not come with pre-installed Facebook and Instagram apps, can help to mitigate the issue.