Meta Will Soon Use Your Data to Train AI. Here's How to Object if You are in Europe

Meta has announced plans to use Europeans’ personal data from Facebook and Instagram to train its AI models, starting 27 May 2025. This includes posts, photos, captions, and other information you’ve shared.

IIf you don’t want your data fed into Meta’s AI training, you need to object to Meta AI before it’s too late – and under the GDPR, you have the right to do so. Objecting later won’t help: once your data is used, it cannot be pulled back out.

Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and how you can object in just a few minutes.

What Is Happening with Meta AI and Your Data?

Starting end of May, Meta plans to use all public posts, photos, and captions from adult EU users to train its AI models (Meta’s announcement). This includes not only the future content generated after this date, but all past content - which means that unless you object before the start date, all of you past data would be incorporated into the training data, which takes it outside of your control (since deletion doesn't work in LLMs).

Meta claims that its approach is compliant with GDPR, and even says that the EDPB’s December opinion “affirms” that Meta’s original approach meets legal obligations. But this is misleading. The EDPB opinion gives national data protection authorities a framework to assess lawfulness case-by-case when companies rely on legitimate interest to train AI. And the opinion is clear on the fact that data is public does not mean users expect it to be used for AI training. Legitimate interest requires a strict balancing test and, if passed, transparent communication so that, if users object, companies stop the processing.

European regulators immediately raised concerns:

• The Hamburg Data Protection Authority warned users that Meta is improperly relying on “legitimate interest” for such invasive data processing (source).

• Norway’s Datatilsynet issued public statements calling attention to the risks (source).

• The Dutch DPA called on users to take immediate action if they do not want their data used (source).

Additionally, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) launched an inquiry into X’s similar practices (source).

Meta previously paused similar plans in 2024 under regulatory pressure, after strong backlash.

As of now, it’s not publicly known whether Meta conducted a legitimate interest assessment and how it reached the conclusion that their processing can happen.

How to Object to Meta AI on Instagram and Facebook

Fortunately, under the GDPR Meta must provide a way to object - a "privilege" non-European users do not get to enjoy.

Here’s how:

1. For Instagram: Instagram Objection Form

2. For Facebook: Facebook Objection Form

The links work best from a PC, and less so from a mobile app - the app still uses a browser and still asks you to sign in again, which becomes an impossible loop if you need to accept the login from the app itself.

Once you are signed in, just submit the form - you do not have to give any justification despite a field for this. Once submitted, you will receive an instant response and email that your objection will be observed.

Important:

• The objection only covers the platform on which you make it - either Instagram or Facebook.

• You must object before 27 May 2025 to prevent your data from being included. 

Why It Matters

Once your data is used to train AI, it cannot be undone. It’s like baking sugar into a cake – you can’t remove it afterward.

If you object after 27 May, Meta will respect your request going forward, but the data already ingested will have been permanently used to shape their AI models. It’s irreversible. That’s why it’s essential to object before the 27 May 2025 deadline.

Globally, regulators are starting to take serious action against the use of personal data in AI training without clear consent:

• In Argentina, Meta is being sued for using WhatsApp data to train AI.

• In Spain, the Public Prosecutor is investigating Meta’s AI data practices.

• In Brazil, the DPA ordered a temporary suspension of Meta’s AI data collection practices.

European users have stronger protections under the GDPR. But those rights are only effective if we exercise them.

Conclusion

Meta’s AI plans are moving fast - and unless you object, everything you posted publicly - photos, posts, including about your children, could become permanent building blocks for AI systems you have no control over.

Exercising your GDPR right to object is quick, free, and essential. Do it before 27 May 2025.

If you found this helpful, share it with anyone you know who uses Facebook or Instagram - they may not realize they only have a few days left to act.