logo
Advocacy group threatens Meta with injunction over data-use for AI training

Advocacy group threatens Meta with injunction over data-use for AI training

Indian Express14-05-2025
Austrian advocacy group NOYB will seek an injunction against Meta Platforms, it said on Wednesday, that could lead to substantial claims if the tech giant goes ahead with plans to use Europeans' personal data to train its AI models.
NOYB, or none of your business, led by privacy activist Max Schrems, said it had sent a cease and desist letter on Wednesday to Meta, which plans to start using personal data from European users of Instagram and Facebook from May 27.
Meta has cited legitimate interest under EU privacy rules for using users' data to train and develop its generative AI models and other AI tools that can be shared with third parties.
The U.S. tech giant said last month users would receive a link to a form that allows them to object to their data being used for training purposes and that private messages and public data from accounts of users under the age of 18 will not be used.
Schrems criticised Meta's rationale.
'The European Court of Justice has already held that Meta cannot claim a 'legitimate interest' in targeting users with advertising. How should it have a 'legitimate interest' to suck up all data for AI training?' he said in a statement.
'We are currently evaluating our options to file injunctions, but there is also the option for a subsequent class action for non-material damages. If you think about the more than 400 million European Meta users who could all demand damages of just 500 euros or so, you can do the math,' Schrems said.
NOYB said an injunction could be filed under the EU Collective Redress, which enables consumers to pursue collective lawsuits against companies in the bloc. It set a May 21 deadline for Meta to respond.
Meta rejected NOYB's arguments, saying its approach complies with guidance from the European Data Protection Board and follows discussions with the Irish privacy enforcer. 'NOYB's arguments are wrong on the facts and the law,' a Meta spokesperson said.
'We've provided EU users with a clear way to object to their data being used for training AI at Meta, notifying them via email and in-app notifications that they can object at any time.'
NOYB, which last year urged EU privacy enforcers to act, said Meta could give users an option to opt-in rather than opt-out and also provide clear conditions for AI training, such as using anonymised user data, in line with EU privacy rules.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

India Will Retaliate If Proposed Carbon Tax Harms Domestic Exports: Piyush Goyal
India Will Retaliate If Proposed Carbon Tax Harms Domestic Exports: Piyush Goyal

NDTV

timean hour ago

  • NDTV

India Will Retaliate If Proposed Carbon Tax Harms Domestic Exports: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said India will "react and retaliate" if the UK imposes a carbon tax in the future that harms domestic exports. The UK government in December 2023 decided to implement its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), starting in 2027. "As of now, no CBAM, we are a sovereign and a very powerful nation if anybody hurts our exports interest, we will react and hurt and retaliate or rebalance to make sure that our interest is not hurt," he told reporters when asked about the UK's proposed CBAM. "I can assure that no unilateral measure which hurts India can go away without a proportionate response from India," he added. Sources have said India flagged the issue during negotiations of the trade agreement. The comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) was signed on July 24, with an aim to double bilateral trade by 2030. The issue is not in the pact, as Britain has not yet notified of the tax. Piyush Goyal added that the EU has also planned to impose CBAM, but it is going to hurt the European Union more.

EU chief von der Leyen heads to Scotland for trade talks with Trump
EU chief von der Leyen heads to Scotland for trade talks with Trump

Indian Express

time2 hours ago

  • Indian Express

EU chief von der Leyen heads to Scotland for trade talks with Trump

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen headed to Scotland on Saturday ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon, commission spokespeople said, as EU officials said the two sides were nearing a trade agreement. Trump, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that he was looking forward to meeting with von der Leyen, calling her a 'highly respected' leader. He repeated his view that there was a 50-50 chance that the US and the 27-member European Union could reach a framework trade pact, adding that Brussels wanted to 'make a deal very badly'. If it happened, he said it would be the biggest trade agreement reached yet by his administration, surpassing the $550 billion accord agreed with Japan earlier this week. The White House has released no details about the planned meeting or the terms of the emerging agreement. The European Commission on Thursday said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. To get a deal, Trump said the EU would have to 'buy down' that tariff rate, although he gave no specifics. EU diplomats say a possible deal between Washington and Brussels would likely include a broad 15% tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the US-Japan deal, along with a 50% tariff on European steel and aluminum. The broad tariff rate would be half the 30% duties that Trump has threatened to slap on EU goods from August 1. It remains unclear if Washington will agree to exempt the EU from sectoral tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals and other goods that have already been announced or are pending. Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other's largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels warned in March that any conflict jeopardized $9.5 trillion of business in the world's most important commercial relationship.

India reserves right to retaliate if carbon tax hurts our exports: Goyal
India reserves right to retaliate if carbon tax hurts our exports: Goyal

Business Standard

time4 hours ago

  • Business Standard

India reserves right to retaliate if carbon tax hurts our exports: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said India will "react and retaliate" if the UK imposes a carbon tax in the future that harms domestic exports. The UK government in December 2023 decided to implement its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), starting in 2027. "As of now, no CBAM, we are a sovereign and a very powerful nation if anybody hurts our exports interest, we will react and hurt and retaliate or rebalance to make sure that our interest is not hurt," he told reporters when asked about the UK's proposed CBAM. "I can assure that no unilateral measure which hurts India can go away without a proportionate response from India," he added. Sources have said India flagged the issue during negotiations of the trade agreement. The comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) was signed on July 24, with an aim to double bilateral trade by 2030. The issue is not in the pact, as Britain has not yet notified of the tax. Goyal added that the EU has also planned to impose CBAM, but it is going to hurt the European Union more.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store