Facebook asks users to allow “cloud processing” to access phone photos for AI-generated collages and recaps, even if not uploaded.
Meta-owned Facebook is prompting users to enable “cloud processing” to access photos from their phones, even those not uploaded.
If users opt into “cloud processing,” Facebook will continuously upload media to its servers and use details like time, location, and theme to generate creative suggestions.
“The feature is being suggested to Facebook users when they’re creating a new Story on the social networking app. Here, a screen pops up and asks if the user will opt into “cloud processing” to allow creative suggestions.” states TechCrunch. “by clicking “Allow,” you’ll let Facebook generate new ideas from your camera roll, like collages, recaps, AI restylings, or photo themes.”
Facebook explains that only users will see AI-generated photo suggestions, and their media won’t be used for ads. But by clicking “Allow,” users accept Meta’s AI Terms, letting it analyze the uploaded photos, including faces, dates, and objects, for creative ideas. The new feature poses privacy concerns for users because the company could use their media to train it AI models, often without clear consent.
The feature will be initially available only for user in Canada and in the US.
TechCrunch researchers also found this feature in the Preferences section under Facebook’s Settings. The experts noticed that on the “Camera roll sharing suggestions” page, there are two toggles, one for photo suggestions, another for “cloud processing.” Meta says it’s opt-in, media isn’t used to train AI models, and suggestions are private unless shared. Still, the feature expands Meta’s data use beyond public posts.
“We’re exploring ways to make content sharing easier for people on Facebook by testing suggestions of ready-to-share and curated content from a person’s camera roll.” company spokesperson Maria Cubeta told TechCrunch. “These suggestions are opt-in only and only shown to you – unless you decide to share them – and can be turned off at any time,” she continued. “Camera roll media may be used to improve these suggestions, but are not used to improve AI models in this test.”
In mid-May Meta planned to use EU user data for AI training starting May 27 without explicit consent. Austrian privacy group noyb threatened a class action lawsuit if the social network giant does not desist.
In April, Meta announced it will start training its AI models using public data from adults in the EU, after pausing the plan last year over data protection concerns raised by Irish regulators.
In June 2024, the social media giant announced it was delaying the training of its large language models (LLMs) using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram following the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) request.
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