A May 12 study by cybersecurity company Surfshark found that many social media platforms either enable AI training on user data by default or require users to complete lengthy opt-out procedures. The research examined 10 widely used platforms, reviewing app privacy policies and the number of actions needed to block AI training where such controls existed.
According to the report, TikTok required 19 actions to request an opt-out, while Facebook and Instagram each required eight. Snapchat, LinkedIn, X and Pinterest offered shorter processes but kept AI training enabled by default. The study also said Reddit provided no user opt-out option for AI model training.
Surfshark said the effectiveness of opt-out requests may depend on local privacy laws, with stronger protections available in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and the United Kingdom (UK) under GDPR. In the company’s press statement sent to DIW, Research and Insights Team Lead Luís Costa said:
"If you've ever shared content on social media, it's highly probable your data is being used to train AI models." The statement added, "Our findings reveal that while social media connects us globally, these platforms also exploit user-generated content as a resource for AI training, often without clear, user-friendly opt-out options."
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by AI Analysis via Digital Information World
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