Meta AI on Hold in Europe: Privacy Concerns Trigger Delay in Meta’s AI Model Launch

The Meta Platforms has announced that it will not launch its Meta AI models in Europe after being directed by the Irish privacy regulator to postpone its plan to utilize data from Facebook and Instagram users. This decision comes after complaints by the advocacy group NOYB, prompting data protection authorities in multiple European countries to take action against the company.

The main concern revolves around Meta’s intention to train its artificial intelligence models using personal data without obtaining consent, despite the company stating that it would rely on publicly available and licensed online information. In response to the Irish privacy watchdog’s request, Meta announced that it will delay training its large language models using public content shared by adult users on Facebook and Instagram. The company expressed disappointment at this setback, emphasizing that excluding local information would result in a subpar experience for users in Europe.

The launch of Meta AI in Europe has been put on hold for the time being as a result of this delay. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) welcomed Meta’s decision to pause its AI models launch, noting that it followed extensive engagement with the regulator. Additionally, the delay will allow Meta to address requests from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which also welcomed the company’s decision and reiterated its commitment to monitoring major developers of generative AI to safeguard the rights of UK users.

NOYB’s chair, Max Schrems, credited the group’s complaints for Meta’s temporary halt and highlighted that there has been no official change in Meta’s privacy policy yet, making it imperative to continue monitoring the situation. Ultimately, Meta’s delay in launching its AI models in Europe reflects