Meta announced that starting December 16th, user interactions with its AI assistant will be utilized to tailor advertisements across its platforms. This update will also introduce suggested posts, reels, and Facebook groups that align with topics discussed in AI-driven text and voice chats.
For instance, if you inquire about hiking with Meta AI, the company may deduce your interest in that subject and subsequently display recommendations for hiking groups, local trail posts shared by friends, or advertisements for hiking gear. According to Meta, they analyze similar user engagement signals whenever a user interacts with content on their platforms, such as liking posts or pages related to specific interests.
According to Meta, conversations regarding sensitive topics such as religious beliefs, sexual orientation, political opinions, health, racial or ethnic identity, philosophical beliefs, or union affiliations will not be utilized for content personalization. Christy Harris, head of privacy at Meta, emphasized that existing sensitivity policies will remain unchanged. Users still have the option to modify their advertising preferences in their settings, although opting out of having their conversations analyzed for personalization is not an option.
If users have connected their Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp accounts within Meta’s accounts center, interactions with the AI chatbot on one platform may influence ad displays and recommendations on other platforms. This includes private conversations with Meta AI in apps like Messenger and WhatsApp, although according to Harris, the handling of encrypted conversations will not change with this update.
Meta will commence informing users about these changes on October 7th. The rollout will be global for the majority of users, excluding audiences in the UK, European Union, or South Korea, as Meta addresses regulatory obligations in those regions.
