Brazil has banned Meta, based in the United States, from using posts by Brazilian citizens on Instagram and Facebook to develop its artificial intelligence systems.

According to BBC, Brazil’s National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) suspended Meta’s privacy policy that allowed the use of users’ posts for developing AI-based chatbots. ANPD stated that it took action due to the risk of harm to users’ fundamental rights or difficulties in remedying such harm.

As a result, Meta, which has 102 million Facebook and 113 million Instagram users in the country, is now prohibited from using Brazilian citizens’ Instagram and Facebook posts to develop its artificial intelligence systems.

The decision comes after Meta ceased using posts from users in the United Kingdom and European Union for the same purpose.

$9,000 FINE

ANPD has given Meta a deadline of 5 business days to demonstrate changes to its privacy policy in response to the decision. Failure to comply will result in a daily fine of 50,000 Brazilian reais (approximately $9,000 USD).

Pedra Martins from Brazil’s Data Privacy agency welcomed ANPD’s decision, noting inconsistency between measures applied by Meta to European users and those applied to Brazilians.

Martins indicated that while Meta planned to use posts from Brazilian youth and children to develop AI models, posts from individuals under 18 in Europe would not be used. In response, a Meta spokesperson expressed disappointment with the decision, noting that it would delay bringing the benefits of AI to people in Brazil.