emirates7 - Meta, the U.S. tech giant, is now permitted to use Facebook and Instagram posts from users in Germany and across the EU to train its artificial intelligence (AI) system, Meta AI, following the expiry of the opt-out period on Tuesday.

Unless users have explicitly opted out, Meta will analyze all publicly shared content from adult users within the EU to enhance its AI models.

A court in Germany dismissed a legal challenge brought by the consumer protection authority in North Rhine-Westphalia, which had accused Meta of breaching EU data protection laws. The court ruled that Meta’s data processing serves a legitimate interest and that no less invasive alternatives are available. It also acknowledged Meta’s commitment to excluding sensitive personal information—such as names, phone numbers, and account credentials—from the data used.

While WhatsApp chats remain off-limits due to encryption, interactions with Meta’s AI assistant are treated as public and may also be used for training purposes.