Meta is quietly rolling out a controversial new feature that asks users to hand over access to their entire camera roll—under the guise of AI-powered creativity. Disguised behind a prompt while creating a Facebook Story, the feature invites users to opt into “cloud processing.” But what Meta actually means is: it will continuously upload your personal photos to its servers to feed its AI systems.
According to Meta’s own language, the platform will “select media from your camera roll and upload it to our cloud on an ongoing basis,” using factors like time, location, and themes. While Meta insists the images won’t be used for ad targeting, the vague language and broad access raise major privacy concerns. Meta has had a checkered history with user data, including a widely criticised plain-text password storage scandal in 2023.
Once enabled, users effectively give Meta perpetual access to their private photo libraries, including images they might not want seen, let alone uploaded. Given that Meta also owns Instagram, users fear similar data practices could spill over to other apps in the ecosystem.
How to opt out of Meta’s photo cloud uploading
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the + icon at the top of the screen
- Tap Story
- Hit the Settings cog in the top-right corner
- Scroll down and tap Camera roll settings
- Toggle off: “Get creative ideas made for you by allowing camera roll cloud processing”
Do keep in mind that this setting is mobile-only and you can’t disable it from a desktop browser.
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