Meta continues to stand firm on consumer complaint lodged by Consumer Centre NRW
Meta's AI System Training Sparks Legal Controversy
Since May 27, 2025, Meta has utilized user content on Facebook and Instagram to train its AI, "Meta AI." Despite the Consumer Center's attempts to prevent this, their urgent application was unsuccessful. As a result, consumer rights expert Felix Flosbach indicates the practice's potential incompatibility with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Consumer Center currently explores further legal avenues, potentially escalating the matter to the European Court of Justice.
Following the recent decision made by a German court, Meta was granted authorization to continue using user data from Facebook and Instagram for AI system training. The court asserted that Meta's actions were lawful as the data primarily consisted of publicly available information and protective measures had been put in place [1]. Furthermore, Noyb, a Vienna-based privacy rights group, has expressed concerns regarding Meta's insufficient compliance with GDPR rules, demanding the company cease its AI training plans. This alleged non-compliance could potentially precipitate a class-action lawsuit [2][4].
Consumer protection groups, including the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center, express reservations about the utilization of user data for AI training, deeming it highly problematic [1][5]. The crux of the issue lies in Meta's adherence to GDPR, as personal data processing must be founded upon one of six legal bases. However, Meta's practice does not provide users with a free choice to opt in or out since the option is limited to an opt-out feature [2][4].
Additionally, the GDPR's implementation determines that users have rights such as the right to be forgotten and data access within AI systems. However, Meta's non-compliance with these rights and the open-source nature of certain Meta AI models complicate matters, hindering the ability to update or delete these models once published [2].
Despite the German court's ruling, the legal landscape surrounding Meta's data utilization remains contentious, with ongoing challenges from consumer groups and privacy watchdogs concerning GDPR compliance.
[1] German Court Ruling
[2] Noyb's Cease and Desist Letter
[4] More News regarding Noyb
[5] Consumer Groups' Concerns
- "The issue of Meta's AI system training, using user content from Facebook and Instagram, has become a matter of cybersecurity concern, with consumer rights experts and privacy watchdogs questioning its compatibility with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)."
- "In light of concerns about data privacy and GDPR compliance, political discussions regarding Meta's use of user data for AI system training have gained traction in the realm of technology and general-news, as consumer protection groups and privacy rights organizations demand transparency and adherence to regulations."
