Meta has updated its Terms and Conditions

In updating their Ts and Cs Meta have basically given themselves permission (without your consent) to data scrape not only any socials you have with them, but also any websites you have linked to those social pages. For artists and other creatives this can have real financial and business implications. I don't think it needs to be said, if you can, you should try and protect yourself from this practice. 

How do I opt out of Meta ( Instagram and Facebook) data scraping my account for their AI ?

If you are in Australia, the UK or the EU the good news is your governments have a modicum of protection to help keep you safe and give you the ability to object to having your data scraped.

If you are in the US and New Zealand and a lot of other countries not mentioned, you can't.

Following is a guide for those who live in countries who can object. 

How To Request opting out of Instagram data scraping your account (AUSTRALIA, UK, EU):

You can now 'request your objection be honoured' and in theory, from then on your content wont be used for training AI models.

The DEFAULT option is that you agree to their new terms, so it actually is important to go through this process if you don't want your business and brand to be used to train AI (who then can very easily imitate you).

Here's what to do:

*Tap the three lines at the top right hand side of your profile page

*Go to your Privacy Centre

*Tap on Generative AI (or AI at Meta) in there

*Go down to Submit an objection request

*tap on Information you have shared on Meta products

*Scroll down to the form, add your email and submit your reason.

*You will want to write something along the lines of:

"As a (insert what sort of creative you are) my creative output is an important part of my work and I object to my content being used to train AI models that may imitate or try and replicate versions of my work in whatever form that may take. There are real IP and financial ramifications for me when and if this happens. If this objection is not accepted I will very seriously consider leaving Instagram and focus on other forms of marketing to support my business. The use of my creative output in the training of any LLMs is harmful to all creatives, potentially damaging to their businesses and against my personal ethics. "

Dont forget to make sure that you have the words "I object" in there.

Then you submit it and you should get correspondence back from them acknowledging and hopefully respecting your wishes.

By Ilona Glastonbury