Meta AI is now available in Europe. In the future, the company behind Facebook and Instagram plans to use European users’ public posts to further train its AI. Learn how you can object here. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced that it will begin using additional user data to train its latest AI tools. According to the company, public posts from both Facebook and Instagram will now be included in the pool of data used to develop and improve Meta’s AI systems. With the recent expansion of Meta AI features to European users, this means that content you’ve posted publicly on these platforms—such as status updates, captions, and even photos—may now be contributing to the training of Meta’s artificial intelligence models.
Meta explains that training powerful AI models requires a vast amount of data. To meet this need, the company uses a combination of sources: publicly available content, licensed material, and data shared through its products and services. Specifically, this includes posts, images, and captions that users share on Facebook and Instagram. However, the company assures users that private messages are not included in this data collection process for AI training. Despite these assurances, the idea that your public social media content is being used to train AI may raise privacy concerns for many users. Some may be uncomfortable with the thought of their photos, comments, or creative expressions being used to refine a machine learning model without explicit consent. Fortunately, Meta has provided a way for users to object to the use of their data for AI training—but it’s not as simple as toggling a switch in your settings.
To prevent your data from being used in this way, you need to submit a formal request through Meta’s privacy center or designated data rights forms. This process requires users to provide specific information and may involve verifying identity. It’s a clear example of how opting out of data use often demands more effort than opting in.
“The problem isn’t just that Meta is using public data to train AI—it’s that they’re doing it quietly, broadly, and with little transparency. When opting out requires a digital maze, consent becomes an illusion.”
In short, while Meta continues to develop its AI tools using publicly shared content from Facebook and Instagram, users who are concerned about their digital footprint still have a way to protect their data—but it requires a proactive approach. As AI becomes more integrated into our online experiences, understanding how our data is used—and how to control it—is more important than ever.
To opt out of AI training on both platforms, you must fill out a form. You can find the Facebook form directly via the link, as well as the
Instagram form . Please note that you must be logged in to both services to even access the form. You must provide your country of residence and your email address in the form. Also required: a reason why you are opting out of AI training.
Meta uses broad terms like “posts,” “photos,” and “captions” without fully explaining what kind of data is being used or how it’s being used in the training process. There’s no clear explanation of how long data will be stored, how it’s anonymized, or whether it can be traced back to individuals.
Issue: Lack of transparency creates confusion and mistrust.
“Public doesn’t mean permission—using our posts for AI without clear consent crosses a line.”
