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- Meta's AI off-switch is coming to Social Media
Good morning and welcome to the latest edition of neonpulse!
Today we’ll be talking about Meta’s AI Off Switch
Meta's AI ‘off-switch’ is coming to Facebook, Instagram
Meta has announced that users in the European Union (EU) will soon have the option to view non-personalized content feeds on Facebook and Instagram. This decision aligns with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates larger platforms to offer users the choice to turn off AI-driven personalization. Such personalization uses tracking and profiling to curate content for individual users.
TikTok made a similar announcement earlier. The DSA aims to give users a choice between algorithm-driven feeds and non-algorithmic ones, where content isn't sorted based on user tracking. Instead, content can be displayed chronologically or ranked by local popularity. The EU's concern is that AI-driven feeds can create filter bubbles, potentially addicting users or subjecting them to automated manipulation.
Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, highlighted in a blog post that European users will have the option to view content not ranked by Meta's AI systems. For instance, users can choose to view content in chronological order or based on search words, without personalization from past activity or interests.
The exact date for the AI off switch's launch is unclear, but it's expected soon, given the DSA compliance deadline. Non-compliance could result in penalties up to 6% of global annual turnover.
Interestingly, this non-algorithmic feed option will be exclusive to the European community. Thus, users in the U.S. and potentially the U.K. (post-Brexit) won't have this feature. The U.K.'s position regarding content personalization denial remains uncertain.
Meta is also focusing on transparency, offering insights into how their AI systems rank content. This is in line with DSA's requirement for platforms to provide clear information about AI recommender systems. Additionally, Meta will enhance ads transparency, applicable only to ads targeting people in the EU.
As the DSA deadline approaches, Meta is introducing more tools for researchers to study content on its platforms. Clegg mentioned the launch of the Meta Content Library and API, which will provide comprehensive access to publicly available content across Facebook and Instagram.
The DSA also restricts platforms from using personal data for ad targeting, especially minors' data. Clegg briefly mentioned a change made in February, where Meta stopped targeting ads to teens based on their activity, limiting it to age and location.
In conclusion, Meta is making significant changes to comply with the EU's DSA, emphasizing transparency, user choice, and research tools. However, the full extent of their compliance and its implications remain to be seen.
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