Meta is training its AI with public Instagram posts. Artists in Latin America can’t opt out

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the concerns of Latin American artists regarding Meta's (Facebook and Instagram) use of their publicly shared content to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models. While Meta gave users in the EU and UK the option to opt out of this practice, most Latin American users were not provided the same opportunity. The article highlights the lack of comprehensive data protection laws in many Latin American countries, leaving artists vulnerable to Meta's practices.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Opt-Out Form

1. What was the opt-out form that Meta provided to users in the EU and UK? The form gave users in the EU and UK the option to opt out of Meta's plans to use their public posts on Instagram and Facebook to train its AI model.

2. Why were Latin American artists unable to find this opt-out form? The opt-out form was only available to users in the EU and UK, and not to users in Latin America. As an illustrator based in Argentina, María Luque "couldn't find the form anywhere on her accounts" because it was not made available to her.

3. How did this differential treatment impact Latin American artists? While Meta gave its users in the EU and UK the opportunity to protect their content, most Meta users in Latin America will have no say in how the platforms use their content. This is seen as discriminatory, as it does not grant the same rights to Latin Americans as those in the European Union.

[02] Lack of Data Protection Laws in Latin America

1. How do the data protection laws in Latin America compare to those in Europe? Many Latin American countries have outdated or non-existent data protection laws, unlike the comprehensive data protection framework in Europe (the GDPR). This leaves Latin American users, including artists, vulnerable to Meta's practices of using their publicly shared content to train AI models.

2. Which Latin American countries have stronger data protection laws? Brazil offers broader protection to its citizens than elsewhere in Latin America, as its privacy laws are more akin to those in Europe. Meta is legally required to give users in Brazil an opt-out option.

3. What are some countries in Latin America that lack general data protection laws? Bolivia and Paraguay do not have general data protection laws. Several other countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Costa Rica, have not updated their data protection laws since at least 2012.

[03] Impact on Latin American Artists

1. How are Latin American artists being impacted by Meta's use of their content for AI training? Many Latin American artists are worried that AI models, fed with high-quality material they had originally created, are essentially replacing them. They feel powerless and depleted, as they have no say in how their content is used.

2. What are some of the specific concerns expressed by the artists? Illustrator María Luque said, "I'm done worrying about this. I feel that there's no way to protect ourselves." Peruvian illustrator Andrea Galecia found it "really frustrating" that Meta could copy 17 years' worth of her dedication to perfecting her technique. Ecuadorian illustrator Gaby Romero noted that many of her clients are not on alternative artist-run platforms, making it difficult to abandon Instagram.

3. How are some artists responding to this issue? Some illustrators have left Instagram in favor of Cara, an artist-run social platform, in recent weeks. However, for many, abandoning Instagram is not a viable option, as their clients are not present on alternative platforms.