A German court has dismissed a consumer protection group’s attempt to halt Meta’s use of public user data from Instagram and Facebook to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The ruling comes after Meta announced plans in April to utilize public posts and interactions from adult users across the EU for AI training beginning May 27, 2025. 🤯
The Verbraucherzentrale NRW had filed a legal challenge to prevent Meta’s use of user-generated content for AI development. However, the court in Cologne upheld Meta’s plans, citing that the company will inform users about changes to its data policies and offer opt-out options.
This decision comes amid growing scrutiny of Meta’s approach to using personal data for AI purposes. Several advocacy groups, including NOYB (None of Your Business), have criticized Meta’s justification of a ‘legitimate interest’ under EU privacy rules and have threatened legal action if the company does not comply.
The case highlights the ongoing battle between Big Tech companies like Meta and consumer protection concerns regarding data usage for AI development. Will the fight be over soon, or will it continue?