The “Goodbye Meta AI” message has become a popular feature on social media timelines, shared by celebrities and countless others. This message claims to protect users from having their Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp accounts used to train Meta’s AI technology. However, it raises questions about its effectiveness.
Meta, the parent company of these platforms, recently announced plans to use millions of UK Facebook and Instagram posts to train its AI technology. This move has sparked widespread concern, particularly as it conflicts with EU privacy laws. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has said it will monitor Meta’s experiment, following agreed changes that make it easier for users to opt out.
Privacy advocates have accused Meta of turning users into “involuntary and unpaid test subjects.” Many users are equally unhappy, and they have started posting the “Goodbye Meta AI” message. They believe this message will assert their right to opt out of Meta’s AI data usage.
Unfortunately, this belief is misguided. Meta has made it clear that posting the message does not count as a valid form of objection. This mirrors previous attempts by users to protect their privacy with legal disclaimers shared on social media, which provided no actual protection.
In 2012, the fact-checking website Snopes debunked similar posts that attempted to assert users’ privacy rights over Instagram content. The site explained that these posts stemmed from the mistaken belief that posting certain legal language could immunize users from undesirable legal consequences. The law simply doesn’t work that way.
The latest version of this type of hoax originated from a post on 1 September. The post’s text had some differences but followed a familiar pattern, claiming users must post a statement to protect their data from Meta’s AI.
Meta has already confirmed it will use publicly available content from UK users to train its AI, though not private posts. If you’re in the UK and using these platforms, this likely applies to you.
So, what can you do to protect your data? Meta has stated it will honor objection forms filled out by users. In the coming days, all adult Facebook and Instagram users in the UK will receive a notification linking to such a form. Filling out this form is the only effective way to object to Meta using your data for AI training.
In summary, while posting the “Goodbye Meta AI” message may feel satisfying, it won’t protect your data. Instead, look out for the official objection form from Meta and complete it to ensure your privacy.