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Some users have noticed settings that let Meta analyze and retain phone photos (zdnet.com)

535 points by mdhb · 332 days ago · 246 comments on HN

Article summary

Meta, the company behind Facebook, has introduced a feature that allows it to analyze and retain photos from users' phone camera rolls, even if they haven't been uploaded to Facebook. This feature is opt-in, but some users have reported finding it enabled without their knowledge or consent. The feature uses AI to generate personalized creative ideas, such as collages and themed albums, based on the photos in the user's camera roll. Users can disable the feature in their Facebook settings.

Main themes

  • Facebook privacy settings
  • Camera roll access
  • AI-powered photo analysis
  • User consent
  • Data protection

What commenters say

  • Limiting photo access to apps is a good practice, and users should use their phone's privacy settings to control which apps can access their photos.
  • Some users are concerned that WhatsApp and other Meta apps are too pushy about gaining access to their photo albums and contacts.
  • Revoking access to photos after they have been shared with an app may not be effective in protecting user privacy, as the app may have already retained a copy of the photos.
  • Using alternative messaging apps, such as Signal, can be a way to avoid Meta's data collection practices, but convincing others to switch can be difficult.
  • Some users have found workarounds to avoid giving apps full access to their photos, such as sharing photos from the Photos app instead of from within the app itself.
  • The requirement for apps to access all media files on a phone in order to use certain features is seen as an overreach of permissions and a potential threat to user privacy.
  • Disabling or uninstalling Facebook and other Meta apps can be a way to protect user privacy, but may not be practical for all users due to the apps' widespread use.
  • The lack of transparency and control over data collection and usage is a major concern for users, and companies like Meta need to do more to address these concerns and respect user privacy.