Meta Suspends Generative AI Tools in Brazil Amid Regulatory Concerns

Meta Suspends Generative AI Tools in Brazil Amid Concern Over Data Training

Facing regulatory hurdles in Brazil, Meta has suspended the use of its generative AI tools in the region, Reuters reports. The decision comes after a ban imposed by Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) earlier this month prohibited Meta from using Brazilian citizens' data to train AI models. Non-compliance would have resulted in a daily fine of 50,000 Brazilian Real (around $9,100). In a statement to Reuters, Meta said it has "decided to suspend the tools while it is in talks with ANPD to address the authority's doubts over generative artificial intelligence." At issue is a privacy policy update Meta rolled out in May that granted Meta permission to train AI models using Brazilians' public data on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, including posts, images, and captions. According to the Associated Press, ANPD told the country's official gazette that the policy carried "imminent risk of serious and irreparable or difficult-to-repair damage to the fundamental rights" of Brazilian users. At the time, a spokesperson from Meta told the AP that the company was "disappointed" and insisted that the policy update "complied with privacy laws and regulations" and the ban was "a step backward for innovation, competition in AI development and further delays bringing the benefits of AI to people in Brazil." As Reuters notes, Brazil is a huge market for Meta, particularly for its WhatsApp messenger app. Last month, the company hosted an event in São Paulo to promote its WhatsApp AI tools for business.

Meta decides to suspend its generative AI tools in Brazil

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Meta Platforms said on Wednesday it decided to suspend use of generative artificial intelligence tools in Brazil in response to the government's objections to its new privacy policy regarding personal data and AI. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT With more than 200 million people, Brazil is a crucial market for Meta. For example, Brazil has the second-largest user base for Meta's WhatsApp after India. In June, Meta hosted an event in Sao Paulo to launch its first AI-driven ad targeting program for businesses on the popular chat service. CONTEXT Earlier this month, Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) decided to suspend with immediate effect the validity of Meta's new privacy policy for the use of personal data to train generative artificial intelligence systems in the country. ANPD ruled that the company would need to adapt its privacy policy to exclude the section related to the processing of personal data for generative AI training, according to the Brazilian authority. KEY QUOTE In a statement, Meta said it has decided to suspend the tools while it is in talks with ANPD to address the authority's doubts over generative artificial intelligence. (Reporting by Andre Romani and Luciana Magalhaes in Sao Paulo; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Cynthia Osterman)

Meta decides to suspend its generative AI tools in Brazil

SAO PAULO, July 17 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab said on Wednesday it decided to suspend use of generative artificial intelligence tools in Brazil in response to the government's objections to its new privacy policy regarding personal data and AI. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT With more than 200 million people, Brazil is a crucial market for Meta. For example, Brazil has the second-largest user base for Meta's WhatsApp after India. In June, Meta hosted an event in Sao Paulo to launch its first AI-driven ad targeting program for businesses on the popular chat service. CONTEXT Earlier this month, Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) decided to suspend with immediate effect the validity of Meta's new privacy policy for the use of personal data to train generative artificial intelligence systems in the country. ANPD ruled that the company would need to adapt its privacy policy to exclude the section related to the processing of personal data for generative AI training, according to the Brazilian authority. KEY QUOTE In a statement, Meta said it has decided to suspend the tools while it is in talks with ANPD to address the authority's doubts over generative artificial intelligence. Reporting by Andre Romani and Luciana Magalhaes in Sao Paulo; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Cynthia Osterman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Meta Halts AI Use in Brazil Following Data Protection Authority's Ban

Meta has suspended the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in Brazil after the country's data protection authority issued a preliminary ban objecting to its new privacy policy. The development was first reported by news agency Reuters. The company said it has decided to suspend the tools while it is in talks with Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) to address the agency's concerns over its use of GenAI technology. Earlier this month, ANPD halted with immediate effect the social media giant's new privacy policy that granted the company access to users' personal data to train its GenAI systems. The decision stems from "the imminent risk of serious and irreparable damage or difficult-to-repair damage to the fundamental rights of the affected data subjects," the agency said. It further set a daily fine of 50,000 reais (about $9,100 as of July 18) in case of non-compliance. Last week, it gave Meta "five more days to prove compliance with the decision." In response, Meta said it was "disappointed" by ANPD's decision and that the move constitutes "a step backwards for innovation, competition in AI development and further delays bringing the benefits of AI to people in Brazil." The use of personal data to train AI systems without their express consent or knowledge has raised privacy concerns, forcing U.S.-based tech giants to pause the rollout of their tools in regions with stricter data privacy laws, such as the European Union. The Human Rights Watch reported in June how personal photos of Brazilian children have found their way to image caption datasets like LAION-5B, exposing them to further exploitation and harm through the facilitation of malicious deepfakes. Apple, which announced a new AI system called Apple Intelligence last month, has said it won't be bringing the features to Europe this year due to the prevailing regulatory concerns arising from the Digital Markets Act (DMA). "We are concerned that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security," Apple was quoted as saying to The Wall Street Journal. Meta has since confirmed to Axios that it will also be withholding its upcoming multimodal AI models from customers in the region because of the "unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment."

Meta halts gen-AI assistant in Brazil after regulator bans data collection

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) pulled its generative artificial intelligence assistant from operating in Brazil after the nation's National Data Protection Authority ordered the company to stop training its AI models with user data. "Due to the imminent risk of serious damage and irreparable or difficult to repair the fundamental rights of the holders, imposed a preventive measure to determine to Meta the immediate suspension in Brazil of the company's new privacy policy, with regard to the part relating to the use of personal data for purposes of training generative AI systems," according to a filing by the NDPA. What's more, the NDPA said it would fine Meta $50,000 reals, about $8,900 USD, per day, for violation of the ban. Facebook had more than 112M users in Brazil as of April 2024, according to Statista. Only India, the U.S. and Indonesia had more people on Facebook. Instagram is even more popular in the South American nation, as it had more than 134M using the app, as of January. Meta also had to delay the release of its multimodal AI model to customers in the EU due to regulatory concerns. And last month, Meta delayed the launch of its artificial intelligence assistant Meta AI in Europe as it deals with a request from an Irish privacy regulator on using content from Facebook and Instagram as training data.

Why Facebook-parent Meta is suspending its generative AI tools in Brazil - Times of India

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