This policy includes provisions covering how the technology conglomerate plans to use its users’ information as they expand their AI Meta experiences.

Given how many visual artists and creators use Meta to share their work and publicise their exhibitions on these platforms, it is important to understand how the new privacy policy affects them, as well as the images and comments that they post.

Per Meta’s terms and conditions, the company can use anything you post on their platforms to develop and train their generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) models including Meta AI and AI creative tools. The company has stated that it will begin using ‘public information‘, including, but not limited to, shared photographs, videos, posts and captions on Facebook and Instagram. However, Meta has also stated that they will not use posts that are not public (e.g. private messages) to train their AI, and that their policy will only apply to content posted by users aged 18+ since 2017.

Unless you ‘object’, Meta will be able to use your public posts, such as images and videos of your creative work, without your explicit permission.

By agreeing to Meta’s terms and conditions, or by not ‘objecting’, users automatically agree to grant the company access to their information for the development of Meta’s generative AI models.

Meta’s new policy was supposed to go live in June, but the company was forced to postpone its plans for UK users while it addressed the issues specified by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The changes the ICO demanded have made ‘objecting’ to Meta’s policy simpler. ACS has outlined the steps you will need to take to object below.