Meta is taking a bold step by now including private and unpublished photos from users to train its AI. Traditionally, the company has harnessed publicly shared images on Facebook and Instagram, but it’s now branching out to tap into photos stored on your device.
According to TechCrunch, when you post a Story you’re asked to opt into ‘cloud processing.’ This means your camera roll is regularly uploaded to Meta’s cloud, where the AI can create neat collages or themed collections for moments like birthdays and graduations.
By opting in, you’re allowing Meta to analyse your photos for media content and facial features, plus the presence of other people or objects. This isn’t entirely new territory—since 2007, Meta has used public post data from Facebook and Instagram to train its generative AI models, albeit focusing on content from adults.
In contrast to Google, which avoids using personal data from Google Photos for AI training, Meta’s guidelines leave it a bit murky whether unpublished photos are exploited. That said, if you prefer keeping your private snapshots just that, you can disable the feature in your settings. Once turned off, any unpublished photos will be cleared from the cloud after 30 days.
While these creative features are designed to spark inspiration, they also bring privacy concerns to the fore—especially if you value keeping your photos off public platforms. Some Reddit users have even reported their personal images being unexpectedly restyled, such as wedding pictures given a quirky Studio Ghibli makeover.
