Dutch privacy regulator concerned over Meta’s AI plans using Facebook, Instagram posts
Instagram and Facebook users in the Netherlands who do not want their data used to train Meta’s artificial intelligence models must file an objection before May 27, 2025, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, or AP) warned Thursday. If users take no action, Meta will automatically begin using their public content—including posts, photos, and comments—for AI training.
The AP said Meta’s new policy affects all public data shared by adult users on the two platforms. The company intends to use that content to train its proprietary system, Meta AI. “The risk is that, as a user, you lose control over your personal data,” said AP Vice President Monique Verdier. “You once posted something on Instagram or Facebook, and now that data could end up inside an AI model—without you knowing exactly what will be done with it.”
According to Verdier, users who oppose the use of their data must act now. “Once your data is in the AI model, you can’t just get it out again,” she said. Objections can be filed through forms available on Instagram and Facebook. Meta has confirmed it will not use data from individuals who have submitted a formal objection.
Despite calling on users to take action, the AP emphasized that the legal responsibility lies with Meta itself. “The responsibility for complying with privacy laws rests, of course, with Meta,” the authority said.
The AP expressed deep concern over Meta’s decision and the broader trend of large tech platforms using personal data to train AI. It said European privacy watchdogs are monitoring the situation closely. Because Meta’s European headquarters is located in Ireland, the Irish Data Protection Commission is taking the lead in evaluating the legality of Meta’s policy.
A key legal question is whether Meta’s opt-out model—where silence equals consent—is valid under European privacy rules. “It’s not yet clear if Meta is allowed to do what it plans to do,” the AP stated. Discussions between the AP, other national privacy regulators, and the Irish authority are ongoing.
Meta previously delayed similar plans in the summer of 2024 after discussions with the Irish regulator. However, the company has now resumed its efforts and set the May 27, 2025, deadline for objection before the new AI training phase begins.
In addition to Instagram and Facebook, Meta has also reportedly integrated Meta AI into some Dutch users’ WhatsApp chats. These users can chat one-on-one with Meta AI or include the AI system in a conversation with another person. According to Meta, these interactions are also used for AI training, but no opt-out appears to be available. Regular private chats between users are not used for AI training, Meta said, unless Meta AI is added to the conversation.
