Meta reaches: How to protect your data from use!

Meta reaches: How to protect your data from use!

On April 28, 2025, an important date for users of meta services such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp is facing. From May 27, 2025, Meta plans to use publicly accessible information and content from users for the training of his AI technology, known as "Meta AI". In this regard, there are new regulations that urgently should consider.

A contradiction to the use of personal data is possible and does not require any reasons. However, users must withdraw their consent by May 26, 2025 at the latest to prevent their already published data from being used in the future. After this date, the data can no longer be brought back or deleted. Meta intends to use content from users over the age of 18, which include, for example, messages, photos and contributions.

objection procedure

In order to object to the use of the data, users must use the online forms on Facebook and Instagram in the logged-in area. This is done on Facebook in several steps: First of all, the user must log into his account and visit the help page. There he selects the option "Objection to Data Use for AI Training" and specifies his registered email address to send the form. On Instagram you follow similar steps, starting with the registration and access to the data protection settings.

• Registration steps for Facebook:
1. Registration with the Facebook account.
2. Visiting the help page at facebook.com/help/contact/ocus- ID].
3. Choice of the option "Objection to data use for AI training".
4. Enter the registered email address.
5. sending the form.

• Registration steps for Instagram:
1. Registration with the Instagram account.
2. Open the settings via the profile picture.
3. scrolling for "data protection and security".
4. selection of "data usage and permissions".
5. Click on "Objection to AI training".
6. Confirmation with the registered email address.

data protection and possible risks

Although private conversations on WhatsApp are protected by end-to-end encryption, they lose this status when an interaction with "Meta AI" takes place. It is recommended not to reveal any sensitive information such as names or health data, especially in chats with AI, since inquiries and messages can also be used for AI training purposes. Users can only ignore the functions of "Meta AI" because they cannot be deactivated or hidden.

In Austria, the use of publicly accessible user data for AI training is controversial under data protection law, and complaints and test procedures against the projects of META are undertaken by the responsible data protection authorities. A survey has shown that around 62 % of Austrians reject the use of their social media data for AI purposes. In view of these concerns, Meta has temporarily postponed his plans, but is now starting a new attempt with the announced measures.