Brazil’s national data protection authority has ordered Meta to stop using data originating from the country to train its AI models. Meta’s current privacy policy allows the company to use data from its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, for this purpose. However, Brazil has given Meta five days to change its policy and confirm that it has stopped using the data, or face a daily non-compliance fine of $50,000 Brazilian Reals. The decision was made due to the risk of serious harm to the fundamental rights of the affected data subjects.
Meta expressed disappointment with the Brazilian authority’s decision, calling it a “step backward for innovation.” The company stated that AI training is a common practice in the industry and that they are more transparent than many of their counterparts who also use public content for training their models and products. The decision by Brazil’s data protection authority came after a report by Human Rights Watch revealed that a dataset used to train image models contained identifiable images of Brazilian children, placing them at risk of exploitation.
Brazil is one of Meta’s largest markets, with over 112 million Facebook users in the country alone. In June, Meta unveiled new AI tools for businesses on its WhatsApp platform at a conference in Brazil. The Brazilian authority criticized Meta for not sufficiently warning users about the changes to its privacy policy and for the lack of transparency in the process of using data for AI training. The authority’s decision reflects a growing concern over the use of data for training AI models, particularly when it involves potentially sensitive information.
The use of data to train AI models has raised ethical and privacy concerns, especially when it involves identifiable images of individuals, such as children. The decision by Brazil’s data protection authority to halt Meta’s use of data for AI training underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of data for such purposes. It also highlights the importance of protecting the fundamental rights of data subjects, especially in the context of emerging technologies like AI.
Moving forward, Meta will need to revise its privacy policy to comply with Brazil’s data protection regulations and ensure that it does not use data originating from the country for training its AI models. The decision by Brazil’s data protection authority sets a precedent for other countries to consider similar measures to protect the privacy and rights of their citizens in the digital age. As AI technology continues to advance, it is essential for companies like Meta to prioritize data privacy and security to build trust with users and regulators around the world.
