If you’ve spent any time on Instagram or Facebook lately, you’re probably worried that both platforms and WhatsApp’s parent company Meta have been sharing posts denying them the right to use their data to train their AI systems. You’ve probably encountered civilians.
A rather unusual student posted a message that started with “Goodbye Meta AI” and said, “I do not give Meta or anyone else permission to use my personal data, profile information, or photos.” If we weren’t friends back in the day, we’d probably be Hollywood celebrities. Actor James McAvoy and former NFL player Tom Brady are among those who posted disclaimers.
But can sharing your posts really stop meta data mining? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding “no.”
The fear that AI could collect all of our personal data and compile it into training data to help improve the systems of multibillion-dollar companies is, on its face, a legitimate concern. . And given that our data shows that the companies behind some of the largest AI systems are at best abusive about things like copyright and personal autonomy, No wonder there is a growing public outcry about its potential use. A government-commissioned survey conducted almost a year ago found that a third of Brits said they did not believe that data use benefits all groups in society.
A version of this message, apparently created in response to Meta’s June announcement that it would use public posts to train its AI systems, has been circulating for three weeks. But recently, the virality of the post has snowballed and gained momentum. Searches for “Goodbye Meta AI” on Google are rapidly increasing.
It is important to prioritize logic over emotion. Can you opt out of mass data collection systems by simply copying and pasting what your great-aunt with questionable views posted on her Facebook profile?
Don’t just take my word for it. A spokesperson for Mehta also slammed the post, saying, “Sharing this story is not considered a valid dissent.” Meta’s fact-checking team labeled this as “false information” on Instagram.
Such so-called copypastas have been circulating on the Internet for years. Similar legal text block messages have been around since at least 2012, when false rumors circulated that Facebook was planning to publicly share private photos and messages. Four years later, the same concerns arose, and the Guardian gently quashed the panic. Both of these messages contained similar language, including references to “UCC 1-308-1 1 308-103” and the Rome Statute.
Even though these messages may seem harmless and sharing them may feel like gambling, we recommend that you don’t get drawn in. Digital literacy in the age of AI is more important than ever, and being able to identify copypastas is key. What it is is nonsense.
Sharing false information like this not only identifies you as gullible, but it’s also a wasteful exercise when there are real ways to use your data against big tech companies. Meta said it will notify users that it plans to train its AI system based on user data and will give users the option to opt out. Once you fill out a short form and submit it to Meta, all your public data will be removed (Meta has already confirmed that it won’t train its system on anything you haven’t publicly shared).
However, if you miss it or still want to go ahead, you can actively opt out. On Facebook, click (Settings & Privacy), then (Privacy Center), and you’ll see text about AI opt-in. The second paragraph begins, “You have the right to object.” Clicking on it will take you to a form where you can voice your objections.
As AI develops, it is important that we all stay on top of the real threats to our data and how to deal with them, and not get drawn into distractions such as “Goodbye Meta AI.”
Chris Stokel-Walker is the author of TikTok Boom: China’s Dynamite App and the Superpower Race for Social Media.
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