Facebook's new AI tool asks users to upload photos from their mobile phones in order to suggest collages, reviews and other ideas through artificial intelligence, even with images that haven't been directly uploaded to the service.
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According to TechCrunch, which first reported the new feature, users are seeing a new pop-up message when they try to create a new Story on Facebook, asking for permission to “edit in the cloud.” By agreeing to have their photos processed in the cloud, Meta says they are also accepting its AI terms of service, which allows it to analyze their media content and facial features.
On a related support page, Meta states that “this feature is not yet available to everyone” and is limited to users in the United States and Canada. Additionally, it was pointed out to TechCrunch that these AI suggestions are optional and can be disabled at any time.
This development is yet another example of how companies are rushing to incorporate AI features into their products, often at the expense of user privacy
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Meta says the new AI feature won't be used for targeted advertising, but experts still raise concerns. When users upload personal photos or videos — even if they do so with their consent — it's unclear how long that data is kept or who can access it. Since the processing takes place in the cloud, there are risks, especially with facial recognition and hidden information like the time or location of the photo.
Even if the data isn't used for advertising purposes, it could end up in training datasets or be used to create user profiles. It's like handing over your photo album to an algorithm, which subtly learns your habits, preferences, and patterns of daily life over time.
Facebook's AI feature comes as one of Germany's data protection authorities called on Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek from their respective app stores over illegal transfers of user data to China. The request follows similar concerns raised by several countries since the beginning of the year.
See also: Meta: Interrupted three disinformation/influence campaigns
What is clear from the above is the growing interest and concern around the use of artificial intelligence in social media platforms and apps, especially with regard to data protection and privacy. Regulators, particularly in Europe, are stepping up scrutiny to ensure that the use of such technologies complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The overall picture shows a struggle between innovation and privacy protection — and for now, it is not clear which side is prevailing.
Source: thehackernews
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