Thu Sep 26 14:16:47 UTC 2024: ## Viral “Goodbye Meta AI” Hoax Fails to Protect User Data
A recent social media trend urging users to post a “Goodbye Meta AI” message, in hopes of stopping Meta from using their data to train its AI, has been exposed as a hoax. Despite being shared by over 600,000 people, including celebrities like Julianne Moore and Tom Brady, the message has no legal standing and does not actually prevent Meta from accessing publicly available content.
Meta has clarified that it only uses publicly shared posts for AI training, and does not access private messages or information. The company assures users that their privacy is protected and they have built tools allowing users to delete their personal data from interactions with Meta AI.
This viral “copypasta” has been flagged as false information by Meta’s fact checker and has been criticized by online users for its potential to expose vulnerable individuals to hacking attempts.
While European users have the option to opt out of Meta AI due to regional laws, US users are not granted the same protection. They can only choose to make their profiles private to limit data access.
The incident highlights the ongoing concern regarding data privacy in AI development and the importance of verifying information shared online.
First Piper 