#enshittification

So, have you ever thought your devices were listening to what you were saying, and then ads for that thing would show up...and all the pundits kept telling us it was coincidence and we were just seeing patterns because people seek patterns?

Yeah...naw. @404mediaco in their tradition of breaking all kinds of news, would like to tell you that you're not insane, and the pundits were wrong.

404 brings receipts: Cox Media Group (CMG) says it can target adverts based on what potential customers said out loud near device microphones, and explicitly points to Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Bing as CMG partners.

MindSift boasted about targeting advertisements by listening to peoples’ everyday conversations through microphones in their smart speakers.

Here's the deck, read it for yourself: https://www.404media.co/heres-the-pitch-deck-for-active-listening-ad-targeting/

(free signup may be required, iirc, but if you've got spare change, consider subscribing too. They're doing yeoman's work out here on the data front.)
#Enshittification

So, in Australia, there's no easy way to opt out of #MetaAI's new #enshittification move of training its #AI on all your words and images, a policy which takes effect from 26th June.

Or is there?

I asked Meta AI's chat bot how to do this, and here's how the conversation went:

> Tell me how to opt out of my data being used to train AI

META AI RESPONSE:

To opt out of your data being used to train AI, you can submit a request through the Meta Privacy Center. Here's how:

1. Go to (link unavailable)
2. Click on "Settings" (icon) in the top right corner
3. Click on "Meta's use of AI and machine learning"
4. Scroll down to "Control how your data is used to improve Meta's products and services"
5. Select "Submit a request" under "Use of data for AI and machine learning"
6. Fill out the form with your name, email address, and a brief description of your request (e.g., "Opt out of AI training data usage")
7. Submit the form

Alternatively, you can also send a request via email to mailto:privacy@meta.com with the subject "Opt out of AI training data usage" and include your name and email address.

Please note that you may need to verify your identity to process the request. Meta will review your request and respond to your email address with a decision.

Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns!

> How long does it take Meta to review my request and to respond?

META AI RESPONSE:

Meta aims to review and respond to privacy requests, including opt-out requests for AI training data usage, within a reasonable time frame, typically:

- 30 days from the date of receipt for requests made through the Privacy Center
- 30 days from the date of verification (if required) for requests made via email

Please note that the review process may take longer if:

- The request is complex or requires additional information
- Meta needs to verify your identity or confirm your request
- There are technical issues or high volumes of requests

If you have submitted a request, you can expect an email response from Meta once your request has been reviewed and processed. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to ask!

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I have sent the email to privacy@meta.com with the appropriate subject line, requesting to be opted out of training.

I'll let y'all know how the request goes.

I mean, if their own #chatbot tells you how to opt out, it must be true, right?!

More:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-10/instagram-facebook-train-meta-ai-tools-no-opt-out-australia/103958308?utm_source=mastodon

(I am adding utm_source=mastodon to links I post so that Mastodon shows up as the source, to encourage folks like the ABC to get on to #Mastodon)