Meta has decided to delay the launch of its artificial intelligence assistant in Europe in response to a request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), according to a June 10 statement.

The Irish DPC, Meta’s lead privacy regulator in the EU, issued the request on behalf of European data protection authorities (DPAs) to suspend the training of large language models (LLMs) on public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram.

Responses to regulatory requests

Meta expressed "disappointment" with the Irish DPC's request and believed that it could hinder competition and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence in the EU. Nevertheless, Meta said it was confident in complying with European regulations and had begun working with regulators to ensure that its AI training activities met relevant legal standards.

Meanwhile, the Irish DPC agreed with Meta’s suspension decision and plans to continue working with Meta on the basis of previous “close engagement.” This decision was made after multiple organizations, including the European non-profit privacy organization NOYB and the Norwegian Consumer Council, filed complaints with the DPC.

Review of developments

Meta has reportedly been notifying European data protection authorities of its activities since March. However, on May 22, Meta began notifying users of its AI training activities through more than 2 billion in-app notifications and emails.

NOYB then sent complaints to 11 DPCs on June 6. On June 10, Meta acknowledged that it had consulted with the Irish DPC and said it had incorporated feedback to ensure its AI training activities were legal and compliant.

Meta noted that companies such as Google and OpenAI already use AI technology to train on user data. Meta expects to follow the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the legal basis of "legitimate interest," a flexible regulation that other companies in the AI ​​industry rely on. #监管 #Meta #AI助手 #爱尔兰

Conclusion

Meta's decision reflects the company's active response to regulatory requirements and its emphasis on compliance. Although it may affect user experience in the short term, in the long run, ensuring the compliant use of AI technology is essential to protecting user privacy and promoting the healthy development of the industry. We look forward to Meta's continued cooperation with regulators to bring high-quality AI services to European users in compliance with regulations.