Deepfake Watch | 19_new

Browser View | June 08, 2024 | Subscribe

They say data is the new oil. And they are misleading. Because unlike oil, you - the user - can fight to gain control of the data you generate (while it may not always feel so).

I bring this up because of a notification by Meta saying they’re going to use your Facebook and Instagram data to train its new AI model Llama 3. Only some people seem to have the option to opt out of this, and it’s a lengthy process.

Continue reading to know why this is troubling, and why you need to push for your own personal data sovereignty.

Opt-in to receive the newsletter every Friday.

Subscribe Now

Your Data, Meta’s Rules

That photo of you in a spongebob bathing suit by the local river may feel rather innocuous. What’s the harm in Meta using that photo to train an AI model?

The question is, was there a choice? Could you choose to voluntarily provide that data, or was it taken from you without adequate efforts to seek your consent? In Meta’s case it seems to be the latter.

Reporting for Decode on this matter, Hera Rizwan writes, “Although users have the right to opt out, the process seems unnecessarily complicated. Instead of enabling a single-click option, Meta requires users to provide an explanation. Moreover, Meta reserves the right to deny your request.”

📑 Read: Meta Harnesses User Data For AI Training; Complicates Opt-Out Process | Decode 

Meta’s policy update clarifies that “you have the right to object to how your information is used”, and that “if your objection is honored, it will be applied going forward”.

Here’s how you can opt-out:

For Facebook, login using your browser and open the "AI at Meta Data Subject Rights" page, select the appropriate opt-out option, fill out the form, and click "Send". You will need to attach evidence showing how Meta’s AI model generated your personal information.

On Instagram, go to “Help” and then tap on “Help Center”. Click on “About AIs on Instagram” and then "How Meta uses information for generative AI models". Scroll down and tap on "Learn more and submit requests here".

Furthermore, Hera notes, “Thus, there is no clear mention of opting out of personal data sharing with the models. The options provided are limited and specifically pertain to third parties.”

Meta is hardly the only tech giant with dubious data governance policies around their AI models.

Industry leader OpenAI has run into multiple troubles over how it trained its GPT models, with entities and individuals like the New York Times, authors George R. R. Martin and John Grisham, and more recently, actor Scartlett Johansson.

In the era of the digital economy, data brings power (hence the oil analogy). And losing autonomy over the data you generate means giving up a little bit of that power to much larger players, and being at their mercy.

Which is why ownership and control over all your social media data - even those harmless images - is crucial, for your digital safety.

Russia sends “Tom Cruise” to sabotage Paris Olympics

A recent report by Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) has revealed that Russia has deployed artificial intelligence to target the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris with disinformation.

Last year, Storm-1679 - a Russian influence actor being tracked by MTAC - released a feature-length film called “Olympics Has Fallen”, imitating the 2013 Hollywood film “Olympus Has Fallen”.

According to the MTAC report, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise was deepfaked in the film, which included “slick computer-generated special effects” and “faked endorsements from Western media outlets and celebrities”.

📑 Read: How Russia is trying to disrupt the 2024 Paris Olympic Games | Microsoft 

Latest on the AI and Deepfakes

• What the AI boom is getting wrong (and right), according to Hugging Face's head of global policy | Rest of World

• Can artists use their own deepfakes for good? | Vox 

• Digital deceptions: How a European Democracy Shield can help tackle Russian disinformation | ECFR

Have you been a victim of AI?

Have you been scammed by AI-generated videos or audio clips? Did you spot AI-generated nudes of yourself on the internet?

Decode is trying to document cases of abuse of AI, and would like to hear from you. If you are willing to share your experience, do reach out to us at [email protected]. Your privacy is important to us, and we shall preserve your anonymity.

About Decode and Deepfake Watch

Deepfake Watch is an initiative by Decode, dedicated to keeping you abreast of the latest developments in AI and its potential for misuse. Our goal is to foster an informed community capable of challenging digital deceptions and advocating for a transparent digital environment.

↗️ Was this forwarded to you?  Subscribe Now 

We invite you to join the conversation, share your experiences, and contribute to the collective effort to maintain the integrity of our digital landscape. Together, we can build a future where technology amplifies truth, not obscures it.

For inquiries, feedback, or contributions, reach out to us at [email protected]. 

🖤 Liked what you read? Give us a shoutout! 📢

↪️ Become A BOOM Member. Support Us!↪️ Stop.Verify.Share - Use Our Tipline: 7700906588

↪️ Follow Our WhatsApp Channel↪️ Join Our Community of TruthSeekers

Copyright (C) " target="_blank">unsubscribe