Europe is currently captivated by the football finals, but EU regulators are keeping a close eye on Meta’s AI plans. Meta has decided to postpone the launch of its AI models in Europe following a directive from the Irish privacy regulator regarding the use of data from Facebook and Instagram users. The advocacy group NOYB, based in Austria, played a key role in urging action against Meta’s data practices.
The core issue revolves around Meta’s intention to utilize personal data for training its AI models without user consent, despite claiming to only use publicly available and licensed online information. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) requested Meta to delay training its large language models (LLMs) with public content from Facebook and Instagram users.
Meta expressed disappointment over the request, highlighting that it had taken regulatory feedback into account and kept European data protection authorities informed since March. The company emphasized that without access to local information, it would not be able to provide a high-quality experience, leading to the delay in launching Meta AI in Europe.
On another note, Apple is also facing scrutiny under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), along with Meta. The European Commission initiated investigations into Apple, Meta, and Google earlier this year, with a focus on Apple and Meta for now. The DMA aims to address Big Tech’s dominance, promote competition among smaller players, and facilitate seamless transitions between competing online services.
EU regulators are expected to issue preliminary findings similar to antitrust charges by August, starting with charging Apple followed by Meta. Potential penalties could include fines up to 10% of a company’s global annual turnover for violations.
Apple may face charges due to its strict rules that limit app developers from informing users about offers outside the App Store and introducing new fees. Another investigation concerning Apple’s choice screen for the Safari web browser is underway. Meanwhile, Meta is under scrutiny for its subscription fee or consent-based model for ads on Facebook and Instagram.
In summary, both Apple and Meta are bracing themselves for a challenging summer ahead as they navigate through regulatory hurdles in Europe. Stay tuned as the situation unfolds!
