How does Meta use AI data for advertising?

Meta uses data from user interactions with its AI services, including chats and prompts, to personalize ads shown on its platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Are Meta's AI features being investigated by the FTC?

A coalition of privacy groups has urged the FTC to investigate Meta's new policy of using AI interaction data for targeted advertising.

What AI products does Meta use for ad targeting?

Meta uses data from various 'AI at Meta' products, including the Meta AI chatbot on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and AI features on smart glasses.

Home / Technology / Meta AI Now Fuels Targeted Ads on Instagram

Meta AI Now Fuels Targeted Ads on Instagram

2 Jan

•

Summary

Meta's updated policy allows AI interaction data for ad targeting.
Users chatting with Meta AI may see ads related to conversations.
Privacy groups urged the FTC to investigate Meta's new ad policy.

Meta AI Now Fuels Targeted Ads on Instagram

Meta is now leveraging user interactions with its AI services to personalize advertisements across its social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. The company updated its privacy policy last month to explicitly state that data from conversations, messages, and prompts shared with "AI at Meta" products will be utilized for targeted ads.

This new policy clarifies that information gathered from AI tools like the Meta AI chatbot, integrated into various Meta applications, and even AI features on smart glasses, may now inform ad recommendations. Meta asserts this aims to improve user experience by showing more relevant content and ads, citing an example of a user discussing hiking potentially seeing related product advertisements.

However, the policy update has drawn criticism from 36 privacy and consumer rights organizations. They sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission in late October, requesting an investigation into the practice and urging the FTC to suspend Meta's use of AI-generated data for advertising without an opt-out mechanism. They argue this represents an "aggressive expansion of AI for marketing" and a move towards "surveillance-driven and behavior-changing marketing."