Refrain from sharing the viral Instagram Meta AI ‘legal’ message
Rising Hoax on Social Media
What’s Happening?
A new form of a long-standing hoax has made its way from Facebook to Instagram. Recently, many users have noticed an increase in a certain type of post appearing in Instagram Stories. Often shared as screenshots, these posts have also appeared on platforms like Facebook and Threads in the form of plain text.
The Nature of the Hoax
The post typically reads:
"Goodbye Meta AI. Please note an attorney has advised us to post this; failure to do so may result in legal consequences. Since Meta is now publicly traded, all members must post a similar statement. If you don’t do so, it will be assumed you agree to have your photos and personal information used. I do not give Meta or anyone else permission to use my personal data, profile information, or photos."
The sudden spread of this message can be partly attributed to some celebrities endorsing it, which has added to its urgency and popularity. Statistics show that public interest in topics such as how Facebook utilizes photos for training AI often leads to the revival of such posts.
The Impact of Sharing
While some individuals believe that sharing this post will protect their personal data, it actually propagates misinformation. By posting these messages, users may falsely believe they have prevented their images from being used, although the reality is they have not opted out of any data-sharing agreements they previously accepted.
Instagram has started labeling versions of this post as false information. However, users can still encounter slightly modified versions that evade detection.
Understanding Meta’s Policies
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has updated its terms and conditions, effective June 26, 2024. These updates allow Meta to utilize user-generated content, including posts, images, and online tracking data, for training its AI models.
Upon close inspection of these terms, it is clear that Meta reserves the right to use extensive years of personal data—private images and online behavior—for their AI technology. This technology is capable of processing data from various sources and sharing it with unspecified "third parties."
Opting Out in the EU and UK
For users in the European Union and the United Kingdom, there are steps available to opt out of having their data used for AI training. Here’s how:
Opting Out on Facebook
- Log in, then tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings and Privacy.
- Scroll down to the Privacy Center.
- Select AI at Meta under Privacy topics.
- Tap on Information you’ve shared on Meta products and services.
- Complete the form and click Submit.
Opting Out on Instagram
- Tap the hamburger menu (three stacked lines) from your profile.
- Scroll down to Privacy Center.
- Select AI at Meta under Privacy topics.
- Tap Information you’ve shared on Meta products and services.
- Complete the form and tap Submit.
After submitting your request through either platform, you should receive an email and a notification confirming whether your request was successful.
Challenges for Users Outside the EU and UK
Unfortunately, users in the United States and other regions lacking robust data privacy laws have limited options for opting out. Advocating for better data privacy regulations can be a key step toward establishing more protective measures for personal data in these areas.
It’s important for users to stay informed and understand the implications of sharing posts related to privacy, particularly in the context of evolving policies from major tech companies like Meta.
