Your phone’s gallery could be feeding Meta’s AI, with your permission

Facebook is reportedly prompting users to grant access to their phone’s camera roll, including private and unpublished photos, to fuel its AI-powered image editing features, according to a report by TechCrunch.

The prompt allegedly appears when users attempt to create a new Story on the app, inviting them to opt into “cloud processing” for creative suggestions. If users click “Allow,” Facebook will begin uploading media from their camera roll to Meta’s cloud servers on an ongoing basis, using details such as time, location, and photo themes.

Facebook says this data will be used to generate personalised suggestions such as collages, AI restyling, recaps, and themed visuals. The company also notes that only the user can view these AI-generated suggestions and claims the content is not used for ad targeting.

However, consenting to the feature also means accepting Meta’s AI Terms of Service. According to these terms, Meta is permitted to analyse images, including facial features, using AI. The company may also use the date, presence of people or objects in photos, and other metadata to develop its creative outputs.

The AI terms further state that Meta may “retain and use” any personal information submitted, including user prompts and feedback, to personalise AI outputs. These interactions, including conversations with Meta AI, may also be reviewed by humans, TechCrunch reported.

Critics argue that features like this highlight the growing concerns around privacy and the use of personal media in the development of AI tools. With tech companies pushing to expand their AI capabilities, users may not fully grasp the extent of data access they are consenting to.