Meta to use European public data to train AI models

Meta announced it will begin training its generative AI models using public content and user interactions with its AI chatbot across Europe. The move marks a shift in the company’s stance amid the European Union’s strict data protection rules.

The social media giant emphasized that users in the EU will have the option to opt out of data sharing for AI training. Data from users under 18 and private messages between friends and family will be excluded. WhatsApp will also remain unaffected for now.

Meta had previously delayed the launch of its AI chatbot in Europe due to regulatory concerns under laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Markets Act. The company reiterated that its earlier AI models were not trained on data from EU users.

With AI development a top priority, Meta plans to invest $60–65 billion this year, focusing on infrastructure to support large language model training.