Meta Spies on Employee Keystrokes for AI

Meta Platforms is facing scrutiny over its Model Capability Initiative (MCI), an AI training tool designed to capture extensive details of employee computer usage. Initially presented as a U.S.-focused project, internal documents reveal that MCI collects data on mouse movements, clicks, and navigation across over 200 apps and websites.

Employees have reported significant spikes in home internet usage due to MCI, with some likening the company to an 'Employee Data Extraction Factory.' The tool's scope also extends to capturing contents of emails and direct messages sent to U.S. personnel, irrespective of the sender's location.

This extensive data collection raises significant privacy concerns, particularly in the European Union. Experts suggest that even indirect capture of EU employee data could violate GDPR rules, especially regarding data dissociation and purpose limitation for collected information.

Meta maintains that MCI is installed only on U.S. employee devices and focuses on computer interaction, not screen content. However, the company acknowledged that communications with non-U.S. personnel would be captured. Meta has stated it is committed to complying with applicable laws and regulations.