Meta to Begin Training AI on Public User Content
Starting October 30, the company will use public posts and photos to refine generative artificial intelligence models.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Meta plans to utilize public user content, including videos, photos, and comments, to train its generative artificial intelligence models beginning October 30, 2026. This initiative focuses on data from users aged 18 and older, excluding information from minors in the UK and EU.
Why it matters
The company aims to leverage vast amounts of public information to enhance the capabilities and accuracy of its generative AI features. This shift highlights the growing demand for large-scale datasets in the development of sophisticated machine learning models.
Meta will process public videos, photos, and comments to train its generative models. Data from users under 18 in the UK and EU remains excluded from this training program.
The players
Meta
Meta is a global technology conglomerate that owns major social media platforms and is actively developing large-scale generative artificial intelligence tools.
The details
Private messages will not be utilized for AI training unless they are shared directly with specific AI features. Users who wish to prevent their information from being included must submit an opt-out request through the Privacy Centre located in the app settings.
Timeline
The new AI training policy is scheduled to take effect on October 30, 2026.
The Tech Race
This strategy follows the standards set by the EU General Data Protection Regulation to manage data processing in the generative AI era. It represents a broader industry trend where tech firms prioritize large, public datasets to compete against rival models.
Users over 18 will have their public content automatically enrolled in the training program unless they manually opt out through the Privacy Centre. Those who submit an opt-out request should monitor their email for a confirmation receipt to ensure their settings were saved.
The takeaway
Users concerned about their digital footprint should review their privacy settings before the policy takes effect this October. Engaging with the Privacy Centre allows individuals to maintain control over their content even as companies scale their AI development efforts.
What happens next
The training policy will officially commence on October 30, 2026, marking the start of the data usage program.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving standards in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
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Do you trust social media companies to use your public posts to train their AI models?
