Meta has admitted to scraping the public data of Australian Facebook and Instagram users to train its AI models, without providing an opt-out option.
This revelation has sparked significant privacy concerns and calls for stricter regulations in Australia, similar to those in the European Union.
Key Takeaways
- Meta has been scraping public data from Australian users since 2007.
- European users have an opt-out option, but Australians do not.
- The data includes photos, posts, and other public information.
- The practice has raised ethical and privacy concerns.
Meta's Data Scraping Practices
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been using public data from its platforms to train its AI models. This includes photos, posts, and other publicly accessible information. The company has been doing this since 2007, and the data collection is ongoing.
During a parliamentary inquiry, Meta's global privacy director, Melinda Claybaugh, confirmed that the company scrapes all public posts unless users have set their posts to private. This practice does not apply to users under 18, but it does include photos and information posted by parents or guardians.
Lack of Opt-Out Option for Australians
Unlike European users, who can opt out of this data scraping, Australians do not have this option. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has forced Meta to provide an opt-out option for users in the EU. However, no such regulation exists in Australia, leaving Australian users without a choice.
Claybaugh explained that the opt-out option in Europe is a response to specific legal requirements. She did not confirm whether a similar option would be offered to Australians in the future.
Ethical and Privacy Concerns
The revelation has raised significant ethical and privacy concerns. Australian senators have criticised Meta for its data collection practices, arguing that users did not consent to their data being used to train AI models. The lack of an opt-out option has further exacerbated these concerns.
Senator David Shoebridge pointed out that Australians would have had to set their posts to private since 2007 to avoid data scraping. This is a significant burden, and many users are likely unaware that their data is being used in this way.
Government Response and Future Actions
The Australian government is under pressure to introduce stricter privacy laws to protect users. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has indicated that new privacy legislation will be announced soon. These reforms aim to bring Australian privacy laws in line with international standards, potentially offering users more control over their data.
Senator Tony Sheldon emphasised the need for government action, stating that Australians are tired of tech companies ignoring laws and rights. He called for immediate measures to address these privacy concerns and protect users' data.
Conclusion
Meta's admission of scraping Australian users' data without an opt-out option has highlighted the need for stricter privacy regulations in Australia. As the government prepares to introduce new privacy laws, the focus will be on ensuring that users have more control over their data and that tech companies are held accountable for their practices.
Sources
- Meta’s AI is scraping users’ photos and posts. Europeans can opt out, but Australians cannot | Meta | The Guardian, The Guardian.
- Facebook admits to scraping every Australian adult user's public photos and posts to train AI, with no opt-out option - ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Meta scraped all public Facebook and Instagram posts since 2007, 9to5Mac.
- Meta scraped every Australian user's account to train its AI, Engadget.
- Tech giant’s bombshell admission, News.com.au.
