Vienna: A Vienna-based privacy rights group filed complaints in 11 European countries on Thursday against Meta, alleging that a planned change to the global tech giant’s privacy policy would enable the “unlawful” utilize of personal data for artificial intelligence technologies.
The complaints brought by the European Center for Digital Rights – also known as Noyb (“It’s none of your business”) – follow Meta’s recent announcement in which it informed its European users about changes to its privacy policy, effective from June 26.
The group said that “after a closer look” it had discovered that US giant Meta – through its fresh privacy policy – plans to utilize all public and non-public user data it has collected since 2007 “for any unspecified types of ongoing and future artificial intelligence technology.”
The undefined AI technology can take personal data from any source and share it with undefined “third parties” – all without obtaining the user’s legally required consent, Noyb said.
“This is in stark contrast to GDPR compliance,” Noyb founder Max Schrems said in a statement, referring to the EU’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation, which aims to make it easier for people to control how companies utilize their personal data.
“The meta doesn’t say what it will utilize the data for, so it could be a uncomplicated chatbot, an extremely aggressive personalized ad, or even a killer drone,” Schrems said.
Through the complaints, the group is asking data protection authorities in 11 European countries to stop applying Meta’s fresh privacy policy before it goes into effect at the end of June and fully investigate it.
The group said it planned to file complaints in other EU member states in the coming days.
Noyb has launched several legal cases against tech giants, often triggering regulatory action.
The group started work in 2018 with the advent of the groundbreaking EU GDPR.
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