Meta Forced to Pause AI Training on Data Collected from Facebook and Instagram Users in Europe

Meta is pausing the training of its LLM models using data gathered from social media channels after the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) asked it to at least delay the process.

Meta was set to start training its LLM models using data collected from Facebook and Instagram, but various EU institutions have a problem with the way the company was preparing to use this information.

According to the company, the request to delay the training came from the Irish DPC and, since Meta has its European headquarters in Ireland, it has to obey the request.

“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,” said the company in a blog post.

“We remain highly confident that our approach complies with European laws and regulations. AI training is not unique to our services, and we’re more transparent than many of our industry counterparts,” the company added.

One of the issues is that the collection system is opt-out and it’s hard to tell how Meta will use the data. At least, this is what the NOYB (none of your business) advocacy group said in its complaint to data protection authorities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain.

NOYB explained that it’s still unclear what happens if the data Meta collects includes information about people who don’t have an account on Facebook or Instagram.

The DPC acknowledged the situation but offered little information.

“The DPC welcomes the decision by Meta to pause its plans to train its large language model using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram across the EU/EEA. This decision followed intensive engagement between the DPC and Meta. The DPC, in co-operation with its fellow EU data protection authorities, will continue to engage with Meta on this issue,” said the agency in a short statement.