The AI Data Grab: Are You Aware?

A significant shift is underway for Facebook and Instagram users. Since April 14, 2025, Meta has begun utilizing a new policy that allows them to incorporate user data into their artificial intelligence (AI) training models. The catch? Your explicit consent isn’t required unless you proactively opt out.

This change, impacting millions across Europe, could fundamentally alter how your online activity – including texts, interactions, and posts – is used. Time is of the essence: inaction implies consent, allowing Facebook to freely use your data.

“Legitimate Interest”: A Controversial Legal Foundation

Meta is basing this data usage on a “legitimate interest” legal basis.This framework,stemming from an interpretation by the European Data Protection Committee,permits the use of certain data without explicit consent,provided strict anonymization criteria are met. Though, critics argue that the anonymization process may not be sufficient to fully protect user privacy.

meta claims to have found the right legal framework.However, this reversal raises concerns. In addition, the notification addressed to users remains Discreet, even unclear.

This isn’t the first time Meta has attempted such a move. In June 2024, facing opposition from 11 European countries, the company was forced to backtrack. Now, they’re back, asserting they’ve found the appropriate legal footing.This reversal has sparked considerable concern, especially given the subtle and frequently enough unclear notifications sent to users.

What Data is at Stake?

Meta is banking on user inertia. If you don’t explicitly object, your data will be integrated into their AI model training.This includes:

• Captions from your photos
• Comments you make
• Content you post on publicly accessible pages and profiles
• Messages sent to Meta AI via Messenger

Currently, data from WhatsApp and private conversations are excluded. Accounts belonging to users under 18 are also exempt.

Taking Control: Opting Out of Meta’s AI Data Collection

You can prevent your data from being used, but it requires proactive action. A refusal form is accessible through the privacy settings on Facebook and Instagram. While Meta claims to have simplified the process, finding the opt-out option still requires effort.

Meta operates on the principle of implied consent. They won’t ask for an explicit “yes”; rather, they assume agreement unless you actively object. This approach has been criticized as a “trap,” where each day of inaction increases the likelihood of your data being used.

Meta says she does not collect private messages exchanged “with friends or family” on facebook and Instagram. However, the line between private and public becomes more and more vague as the tools are evolving. The risk of abusive use or a sensitive data leak is not theoretical. It is indeed real.

While Meta states that private messages exchanged with friends and family are not collected, the blurring lines between public and private data, coupled with evolving AI tools, raise concerns about potential misuse or data leaks.The risk, as many experts agree, is very real.