GDPR Showdown: Meta vs. European Privacy Rights! What’s Going On With AI and Social Media?

European NGO None of Your Business (noyb) strikes back at Meta Inc. amidst privacy concerns.

Meta’s Privacy Policy Sparks Urgency for European Data Protection Authorities

Meta recently notified millions of European users about changes to its privacy policy, revealing plans to use years of personal data for an undefined “AI technology.” Instead of obtaining user consent, Meta claims a legitimate interest overrides user privacy rights, preventing data removal once integrated. In response, privacy group noyb filed complaints in 11 European countries, urging immediate action to halt these changes before their implementation on June 26, 2024 .

Broad and Undefined Use of Personal Data Raises GDPR Concerns

Meta’s new policy allows for the use of both public and non-public user data, collected since 2007, for any future AI applications. This includes dormant accounts and additional information from third parties, potentially affecting around 4 billion users globally. The lack of specific purposes and the broad scope of data use contravene GDPR requirements, sparking significant privacy concerns. Max Schrems, of noyb, highlights the policy’s ambiguity, which could enable anything from chatbots to aggressive advertising without user consent .

Legal and Regulatory Pushback Against Meta’s Practices

Noyb argues that Meta’s approach violates multiple GDPR articles, emphasising that user consent is mandatory rather than an opt-out form. Meta’s reliance on “legitimate interest” as a legal basis has already been dismissed by the European Court of Justice. With the Irish Data Protection Commission accused of leniency towards Meta, noyb has requested an urgency procedure to enforce compliance. The case highlights ongoing tensions between big tech companies and European data protection standards .

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