Meta’s AI Tools on Hold in Brazil 

Meta platforms has made the decision to stop the use of all of its Meta generative AI tools in Brazil due to the objection of the government on the privacy policy related to personal data and AI. 

This move by Meta is very significant, given that Brazil is considered a vital market for the company, hosting the second largest user base for Meta and WhatsApp right after India. Additionally, back in June, Facebook’s parent company launched its first AI-driven ad targeting program for businesses on WhatsApp. 

Regulatory Pushback 

Earlier this month, the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) in Brazil has ordered to immediately suspend the tech giant’s new privacy policy. The ruling emphasized that the privacy provisions regarding the use of personal data to train generative AI systems were not acceptable. The authority asked Meta to review its privacy policy, and more specifically to remove any section linked to processing personal data with the aim of training AI systems. 

Decisions and Plans Inconsistency 

Instead of doing so, Meta responded to the request by announcing that it is considering halting the use of its AI tools in the country, while having discussions with ANPD to solve these issues, stating that it is committed to addressing the authority’s concerns about the use of generative AI.  

The decision of the suspension comes at a time when Meta is looking forward to expanding its AI capabilities and integrate them into its platforms worldwide, as it has been heavily investing in AI technology to enhance user experiences and provide better ad targeting solutions for businesses. Therefore, its decision in Brazil is considered a setback for its AI ambitions in one of the most important markets. 

This is not the first time Meta generative AI has faced similar regulatory challenges regarding its services. Last year, the Canadian government urged Meta to lift its news ban on Facebook and Instagram in Canada, due to a legislation that requires well-known internet corporations to pay for the distribution of news articles, making it hard to publish news related to wildfire incidents happening in the country. Meta responded that it would be unsustainable for its business. In response, the giant removed the service completely from Canada. The latest uncovering of events around Meta’s discourse with governments shows clearly that the tech giant would rather withdraw its services than try to comply with regulations. In parallel, we always find that the Facebook parent emphasizes that user privacy and regulatory compliance are at the top of its priorities. 

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