Meta granted authorization to utilize Facebook user data for artificial intelligence enhancement.
Meta Given Green Light to Use User Data for AI Training by German Court
COLOGNE, Germany - Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been authorized by the Higher Regional Court of Cologne to use user contributions for the training of its Meta AI software. The court found that the company's use of data for AI training is lawful without obtaining explicit consent, basing its decision on Meta's legitimate interest under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
From May 27, Meta plans to use public posts from adult users of its services for training purposes. Users will have the opportunity to object to the data processing, but it will not be mandatory. The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center (VZ NRW) filed an urgent lawsuit against Meta, arguing that the company's actions violate European data protection law. However, Judge Oliver Jörgens of the OLG Cologne deemed the application unfounded.
According to the ruling, Meta's interest in data processing for AI training is considered legitimate, and the announced use of data is lawful without the consent of the data subjects. The court acknowledged that large amounts of data are required for training, which may not be reliably fully anonymized, but the interests of users and Meta as the operator led to data processing prevailing. Meta has also informed users about the planned data processing and created opportunities for users to actively object to the use of their data.
Meta welcomed the decision, stating that it reaffirms that their approach does not violate data protection regulations. Max Schrems, head of the European privacy organization Noyb, expressed initial surprise but noted the need for more evidence for an interim injunction. Consumer advocates like VZ NRW and Noyb plan to continue challenging Meta's use of user data for AI training, expanding their legal actions to include a procedure for the entire EU.
It remains unclear whether Meta's approach to data processing complies fully with GDPR requirements for consent and transparency. Concerns have been raised regarding the opt-out mechanism and potential GDPR violations, such as the right to be forgotten or data rectification. Advocates for privacy argue that the reliance on a "legitimate interest" as the legal basis for processing personal data may not hold up in further legal proceedings.
Sources:[1] Meta: We are using your data for AI training. You can't stop us. (German)[2] Meta Corps: KS appeals unsuccessful - consumer protection center files urgent application against Meta (German)[3] Max Schrems: We Told Meta We'll Sue Them If They Use Our Data Without Consent (English)[4] Facebook's AI training: Consumer Center opposes "unconditional" use of user data (German)[5] noyb: noyb wants to prevent Facebook's AI training through legal action (German)
Meta's authorization to use user data for AI training, as decided by the Higher Regional Court of Cologne, is based on the company's legitimate interest in data-and-cloud-computing technology for service improvement. The court's decision allows Meta to proceed with using user data for AI training without obtaining explicit consent, as per the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
