AI privacy hoax spreads on Facebook: what users need to know

The rise of AI-related privacy concerns: A viral copypasta claiming to protect users from Meta’s AI has spread across social media platforms, highlighting growing anxieties about personal data and AI training.

• The “Goodbye Meta AI” copypasta, featuring legal-sounding language and urgent calls to action, has been shared thousands of times on Facebook and Instagram.
• Notable figures, including Tom Brady and James McAvoy, have reportedly shared the copypasta in their Instagram Stories.
• This trend echoes similar viral posts from over a decade ago, which also claimed to protect users’ data through pseudo-legal declarations.

Debunking the copypasta’s claims: Despite its widespread circulation, the “Goodbye Meta AI” copypasta has no actual legal or technical effect on protecting users’ data from AI models.

• Meta spokesperson Emil Vazquez confirmed that posting the copypasta does not opt users out of having their data used for AI training.
• The company does not currently offer a comprehensive opt-out feature for AI data usage.
• Meta has built in-platform tools that allow users to delete personal information from chats with Meta AI across its apps.

Identifying misleading copypastas: There are common red flags that can help users spot deceptive viral posts like “Goodbye Meta AI.”

• Urgent calls to action, such as “all members must post,” are often indicators of a misleading copypasta.
• Vague references to legal situations or unnamed attorneys should raise suspicion.
• Misspellings and unclear legal terminology are also common in these types of posts.

Limited options for protecting personal data: In reality, there are few effective ways for individual users to prevent their public posts from being used in AI training datasets.

• The most drastic measure would be to stop posting online altogether.
• Users can take steps to reduce publicly available information on their social media profiles for increased privacy.
• Downloading old posts for personal records and then deleting them from online platforms can help minimize data availability.

Existing privacy controls and opt-out options: While comprehensive protection is challenging, some platforms do offer limited controls over AI data usage.

• European users of Meta’s platforms can object to their personal information being used for AI models, although the effectiveness of this option is questionable.
• Some websites and apps allow users to opt out of certain aspects of their AI training practices.
• Users can refer to Meta’s guidelines for steps to delete personal information from chats with Meta AI across its apps.

Broader implications for data privacy: The viral spread of the “Goodbye Meta AI” copypasta reflects growing public concern over data privacy and AI development.

• The popularity of this copypasta underscores the desire of many users to regain control over their personal information in the digital age.
• The incident highlights the need for clearer communication from tech companies about data usage and more robust privacy controls for users.
• As AI technology continues to advance, the tension between data collection for AI training and individual privacy rights is likely to remain a significant issue in the tech industry and public discourse.