Meta has suspended its use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in Brazil after the country’s data protection authority issued a preliminary injunction objecting to a new privacy policy.
There was development reported for the first time Reuters news agency reports.
The company said it decided to suspend use of the tools while it negotiates with Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) to address the agency’s concerns about its use of GenAI technology.
Earlier this month, ANPD terminated with the social media giant’s new privacy policy taking effect immediately, giving the company access to users’ personal data to train its GenAI systems.
The decision stems from an “imminent risk of serious and irreparable harm or irreparable harm to the fundamental rights of affected data subjects,” the agency said.
It also set a daily fine of 50,000 reais (about $9,100 as of July 18) for non-compliance. Last week it gave The goal is “five more days to prove the execution of the decision.”
In response, Meta said it was “disappointed” by the ANPD’s decision and that the move was “a step back for innovation, competition in AI development and further delays in allowing people in Brazil to enjoy the benefits of AI.”
The use of personal data to train artificial intelligence systems without their apparent consent or knowledge has raised privacy concerns, forcing US tech giants to suspend deployment of their tools in regions with stricter data privacy laws, such as the European Union.
Human Rights Watch reported in June how private photos of Brazilian children ended up in datasets like LAION-5B, exposing them to further exploitation and harm through the promotion of malicious deepfakes.
Apple, which announced a new AI system called Apple Intelligence said last month that it would not be bringing these features to Europe this year due to overwhelming regulatory concerns stemming from the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
“We are concerned that DMA compatibility requirements could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security,” Apple said. is quoted as The Wall Street Journal said.
Meta since then confirmed Axios announced that it will also not release its future multimodal AI models from customers in the region due to the “unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment.”
