Meta’s latest venture into AI-driven chat features on Instagram has created quite a buzz, with celebrities and creators taking on digital personas for interactive conversations across platforms like Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. However, the AI chat feature, which is currently in beta, has raised valid concerns surrounding user privacy.
One of the primary concerns stems from the absence of end-to-end encryption in conversations with AI characters on Instagram. When users activate end-to-end encryption, the option to chat with these AI personas disappears, implying that messages exchanged with them may not be as secure as one would hope.
Meta’s historical record of data handling, including the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal and incidents involving sharing private conversations with law enforcement, adds to the uncertainty surrounding the protection of user data in AI messaging. These past events raise questions about whether Meta can be entrusted with safeguarding user data in AI-powered interactions.
Similar doubts loom over the AI messaging feature on WhatsApp. While a disclaimer on WhatsApp suggests that personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted, Meta’s generative AI privacy policy lacks clarity. It states that messages sent to AI may be used for model training but doesn’t explicitly confirm end-to-end encryption for these AI chats.
In contrast, OpenAI’s recent introduction of an opt-out feature for ChatGPT provides users with the choice to prevent their data from being used in model training, offering a level of control over their privacy. Other AI services like Google Bard and Microsoft Bing, though lacking opt-out options, allow users to delete their activity. Meta’s generative AI privacy policy also provides users with the means to erase their data through specific commands within the chat interface.
As Meta forays deeper into the realm of AI-driven interactions, the company’s ability to safeguard user data and ensure privacy will be closely scrutinized, particularly in light of past controversies and the evolving landscape of AI technology.