Brazil bans Meta from using user data to train AI models

This Tuesday, the Brazilian government banned the company Meta, owner of the platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsAppto use data from Brazilian users to train artificial intelligence (AI) models.

The ban was decided by the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD), an agency linked to the Ministry of Justice of the South American country, which ordered the immediate suspension of a new Meta privacy policy that came into effect at the end of June and that allowed the use of publications on its social networks for these purposes.

In a note, the ANPD reported that Meta’s new policy allows the company to use publicly available information and Content shared by users of their platforms to train and improve AI systems. and “such treatment could have an impact on a substantial number of people, since, in Brazil alone, Facebook has around 102 million active users.”

After launching an investigation, the agency detected signs of violations of the Brazilian data protection law, as well as a risk of “serious and difficult-to-repair damage” to users, and issued this “preventive measure.”

According to the ANPD, Meta also did not offer “adequate and necessary information” so that the owners were aware of possible consequences of processing your personal data for the development of AI models“.

The Brazilian authority also stated that while users could object to the processing of personal data, there were “excessive and unjustified obstacles to accessing information and exercising this right.”

In addition, the Brazilian authority warned that Meta could end up using content posted by children and did not observe that the technology company had taken the necessary measures to safeguard the interests of children.

Meta, controlled by its founder Mark Zuckerberg, faces a fine of 50,000 reais a day (about 8,200 euros) if it does not comply with the measure.