A startling revelation regarding Meta’s new AI feature was made on Saturday, which can potentially alter the management of your private photos.
Facebook users have been requested to grant Meta AI access to their complete phone camera roll, which includes unpublished and private images as well as photos that have been shared on Facebook or Instagram.
This access is framed as a convenience for creating AI-generated photo collages, event recaps, and themed suggestions, but it raises serious privacy concerns.
Meta AI’s new photo access: What it means for you
When users try to upload a Story on Facebook, a pop-up invites them to opt into “cloud processing.” Meta AI will regularly upload photos from the user’s phone to its cloud servers if accepted.
The AI uses metadata like time, location, and themes to generate personalised creative ideas. Meta assures users that only they can see these suggestions and that the photos won’t be used for targeted ads.
However, agreeing to this feature allows Meta to analyse facial features, objects, and other details in your photos. Meta’s AI Terms of Service allow the company to retain and use this personal information, including user feedback, to improve its AI outputs. According to reports, some interactions with Meta AI might even be reviewed by humans.
Privacy risks and User control
This new feature significantly shifts from Meta’s previous practice of using only publicly shared photos to train its AI. If users opt in, photos that have never been shared on any platform can be scanned and uploaded.
Privacy advocates warn this could lead to unintended data exposure, as the photos are stored and processed in the cloud, where security risks exist. The vague language around data retention and who can access the images adds to the concerns.
Meta claims the feature is opt-in and can be disabled anytime, but users must be cautious before granting such broad access. The company’s history with data privacy issues makes many wary of trusting it with sensitive personal media. Experts highlight the need for explicit consent and strict limits on data collection to protect users from potential misuse.
This development is part of a broader trend where tech companies integrate AI features that rely heavily on user data, sometimes at the expense of privacy. While AI-generated photo suggestions may seem helpful, they come with the hidden cost of constantly surveilling your private digital life.