Regulator In Brazil Forbids Meta From Using Data Mining to Train AI Models

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Meta, was found on Tuesday by the National Data Protection Office of Brazil to be unable to train its artificial intelligence using data that originated in the nation.

Meta may now input user posts into its AI algorithms. This is made possible by a change to its privacy policy. However, Brazil will not allow that practice.

The agency stated in the country’s official gazette that the decision was made due to “the imminent risk of serious and irreparable or difficult-to-repair damage to the fundamental rights of the affected data subjects.”

One of Meta’s largest markets is Brazil. According to a statement from the organization, Facebook alone has almost 102 million active users in the nation.

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The country’s 2022 census indicates that 203 million people are living in the country. In a statement, a Meta representative expressed the company’s “disappointment” and insisted that their approach “complies with privacy laws and regulations in Brazil.”

“This further delays the benefits of AI for people in Brazil and is a step backward for innovation and competition in AI development,” the representative continued.

The social media giant has also run across opposition to its updated privacy policies in Europe, where it recently postponed its intentions to begin using users’ public postings as training data for artificial intelligence (AI) systems, which were set to begin last week.

Such training is already in place in the US, where there is no national legislation safeguarding internet privacy.

For some of its generative AI features, Meta may “use information that people have shared publicly about Meta’s products and services,” which may include “public posts or photos and their captions,” the company stated on its Brazilian blog in May. Meta stated that it is possible to decline to participate.

The agency stated in a statement that despite that choice, there are “excessive and unjustified obstacles to accessing the information and exercising” the right to opt-out. It further stated that Meta did not give enough information for users to understand the potential repercussions of exploiting their data for the creation of generative AI.

The agency set a daily fine of 50,000 reals for noncompliance, which must be shown by the corporation within five working days after being notified of the judgment.

Gentle Reminder: Be careful how you use your authority and influence, be wise, and treat others with respect.

Chychy Jonas