Meta faces row over plan to use European data for AI
- Austrian privacy group NOYB, led by Max Schrems, sent Meta a cease-and-desist letter on May 14, 2025, challenging its plan to use Europeans' personal data for AI training starting May 27.
- NOYB disputes Meta's reliance on the GDPR 'legitimate interest' exemption, citing prior EU court rulings where Meta lost similar arguments on data use for advertising.
- Meta proposes using data from over 400 million European Instagram and Facebook users, excluding private messages and data from minors under 18, with an opt-out objection option provided.
- NOYB estimates damages could exceed €200 billion if each user seeks about €500 for non-material harm, urging Meta to require explicit opt-in consent to comply with EU privacy laws.
- The dispute could trigger injunctions and class actions against Meta, potentially delaying its AI model training and setting precedent for broader EU data privacy enforcement.
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35 Articles
Meta wants your smile, squats, and small talk — and it's paying $50 an hour to scan them
Mark Zuckerberg is all in on the metaverse.MetaMeta is recruiting people to record facial expressions and small talk to help build virtual avatars.It's for "Project Warhol," which is run by the data firm Appen, and pays $50 an hour.Meta's Reality Labs has lost $60 billion since 2020, and it sees 2025 as a make-or-break year.What's in a smile? If you're training Meta's virtual reality avatars, it could be $50 an hour.The tech giant is recruiting …
Austrian Group Questions Meta’s ‘Legitimate Interest’ In Using EU Data For AI, Threatens Legal Action Over $200 Billion: '...Making Money Is More Important Than The Rights Of Its Users' - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Austrian advocacy group, NOYB, is gearing up to seek an injunction against Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), potentially leading to billion-euro damages claims. This action comes as a response to Meta's plans to use Europeans' personal data for AI training.
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