600,000 People Fall for Meta Hoax on Social Media

Over 600,000 people have been misled by a viral hoax claiming they can prevent Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, from using their images for artificial intelligence (AI) training. This misinformation gained traction after Meta announced in June its intentions to use public posts for AI development. While the company asserts compliance with privacy laws, numerous users expressed concerns regarding their data security. The viral message gained a substantial following, notably after high-profile individuals like James McAvoy and Tom Brady shared it, amplifying its reach. However, a Meta spokesperson clarified that sharing the hoax will not protect users' information and does not constitute a legitimate objection to data usage. To effectively prevent Meta from utilizing their public content, users must navigate to their privacy settings and make the appropriate adjustments. The spread of this hoax highlights the significant influence celebrities wield on social media and the public's growing anxiety over digital privacy in a world increasingly reliant on AI.