You Don’t Have to Post It for Facebook to Scan It

Facebook is rolling out a new AI feature that may give it deeper access to your phone than ever before, and most users won’t realize what they’re agreeing to.

The tech giant is now prompting some users to allow “cloud processing” of their camera roll, a move that enables Facebook to scan and upload photos stored on your device on an ongoing basis, according to Straight Arrow News. 

The company says the goal is to generate AI-enhanced content, like themed collages and stylized memories. But privacy advocates see something more invasive.

The prompt, which appears when users attempt to create a new story, touts the feature as a way to “curate the best of your camera roll.” 

But once you opt in, Facebook can continuously access photos based on time, location, and even who or what is in the picture. That includes photos you’ve never shared on the platform.

Facebook insists this data won’t be used for ad targeting, but the fine print tells a different story. According to Meta’s terms, any image processed by its AI can be analyzed and retained, along with the prompts or feedback users provide. This content can be used to generate new material or refine the platform’s AI tools.

While users can toggle off the feature in settings under “camera roll sharing suggestions,” many may not know it’s even active. It’s unclear how many users have enabled it, or if they understand the long-term implications.

This comes on the heels of Meta’s recent legal win in a copyright case brought by authors who claimed the company trained its AI on their books. Though the case was dismissed, it highlights growing unease around how companies collect and use creative content in training datasets.

With so much of our lives stored in the photos we don’t share, Facebook’s new feature feels less like a tool and more like a test of how much we’re willing to give away without realizing it.