Meta gave Norwegians four weeks to “reserve” if they do not want their posts and photos on Facebook and Instagram to be used to train artificial intelligence. Training started on 26 June. But on Friday, the company paused the rollout, at the request of the Irish Data Protection Authority. – We are very sure that our method fulfills our obligations according to European laws and regulations, the company writes in a press release. This message went out to Facebook users in Europe. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB The president of Tekna, Elisabet Haugsbø, completely disagrees with that. – There is a reason why they press the pause button, if they genuinely thought they did an okay job, they would not have postponed it. Tekna is the trade union for technologists, natural scientists and students. They believe Meta’s AI training violates privacy. – I think it is very good that the Irish Data Protection Authority has taken responsibility and made demands on Meta, says Haugsbø. This was Meta’s plan From June 26, Meta would use public content published on Facebook and Instagram to train its artificial intelligence models. Meta has explained to news that these are different forms of content they can use for AI training: All Facebook posts published as “public – everyone on or off Facebook”. All Facebook comments published under public posts, such as posts published by media houses. All Facebook posts and comments on all public events and groups. All Instagram posts, photo and caption, published by a public profile. All Instagram comments under public Instagram posts. This will also affect Instagram profiles that are private. Meta states that they will not use private content for AI training. This will be, for example: Posts and photos published on a closed Instagram profile. Messages and photos shared in group conversations on Facebook Messenger. Posts and photos published on Facebook to “friends of friends” or “friends. Source: Meta’s spokesperson Matthew Pollard The Consumer Council is also satisfied with Meta’s decision. – This would not have happened without massive pressure, including through a complaint from the Consumer Council and the privacy organization noyb, says director Inger Lise Blyverket. She says they will follow the matter further with their European partners. – We believe Meta lacks a legal basis to process users’ personal data to train AI models. Few of them had even imagined that pictures of children and family, parties and holidays and all possible status updates would be used to train AI. But what happens next is still unclear. Thinks the government needs to wake up On Monday 17 June, digitization minister Karianne Tung (Ap) was to have a digital meeting with Meta from her office in Oslo. Haugsbø in Tekna previously believed that Tung had to demand a halt. She has got her way, but the Tekna president still has clear expectations of the minister. – She must make demands on how to handle good privacy protection in Norway for Norwegian users. Set requirements that it should be easy to say whether you will join or not. Digitalization Minister Karianne Tung will meet Meta digitally on Monday 17 June. Photo: Hanna Johre / news Tung has previously told news that she does not want a temporary stop. – I do not want a temporary ban, but rather to regulate and govern where the companies have too much power. Tekna’s president believes Karianne Tung has been too careful with Meta. – I think the government is not awake when it comes to the Meta case. They seem paralyzed, says Haugsbø. She believes Tung should have clear requirements for Meta. – When I saw the minister on Dagsnytt 18, she said she had a lot of questions for Meta. It is not the same as a claim. – Meta does not comply with the GDPR in an acceptable manner. Karianne Tung should be very clear about this, says Elisabet Haugsbø. Photo: Tekna Promises not to stop Meta Before the change became known, news spoke to the minister for digitization about the meeting on Monday. She then said that she will be clear to Meta that it is problematic to change the terms of use of content on its services without first obtaining active consent from the users. She will also ask Meta about what the changes entail, why they think it is legal and how people can easily make a reservation. – I expect Meta to give privacy more priority and plan for a technical solution that makes it easy to say yes or no. – Can Norwegian citizens expect you as minister to fix this before 26 June? – I will be clear in my expectations and demands, but it is up to Meta if they want to deal with it. – I do not want a temporary ban, but rather to regulate where the companies have too much power, says Karianne Tung. Photo: Hanna Jorhe / news – What consequences will Meta have if they do not meet your expectations? – I am not a court in myself. It is the data inspectorates in Europe that we must go after if they conclude that this is illegal. The Data Protection Authority in Norway says that they talk a lot with other European data protection authorities. It is clear to them that Meta’s AI plans are worrying people across Europe. But the Norwegian Data Protection Authority does not think they will be able to say whether Meta’s actions are illegal by 26 June. They have limited resources. – With the current resource situation, I don’t know if it is even possible. We must also look at whether there will be any common European push, says Tobias Judin, section leader in the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. Published 14.06.2024, at 18.23 Updated 14.06.2024, at 18.58
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Meta gives in – halts AI measures temporarily – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
