A German court has ruled in favor of Meta, allowing the tech giant to use Facebook and Instagram user data to train its artificial intelligence systems. This decision, which follows a challenge by consumer protection groups, could set a precedent in Europe’s ongoing debate over data privacy and AI development.
Court backs Meta’s use of public data for AI training
The higher regional court in Cologne determined that Meta is pursuing a legitimate objective in feeding user data into its AI systems. Crucially, the court stated that this practice is legal even without obtaining explicit consent from users, provided the data is publicly available and accessible via search.
According to the ruling, there are no “equally effective, less intrusive means” to train such AI models, and Meta had taken steps to reduce the impact on users. These included notifying them through app interfaces and only utilizing publicly visible content.
Consumer groups express doubts despite ruling
Despite the verdict, consumer advocacy organizations remain skeptical. The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center, which brought the case, argued that the legality of Meta’s practices is still in question. Its head, Wolfgang Schuldzinski, stated there are “considerable doubts about the legality” of using personal data this way.
Meanwhile, the privacy group Noyb, based in Vienna, has taken steps toward launching a legal challenge, beginning with a cease-and-desist letter to Meta. The group warned that further legal action could follow, including potential class-action lawsuits.
The court’s decision may influence how other EU jurisdictions interpret the balance between AI innovation and data privacy, especially when it involves publicly available content on social media platforms.