Meta plans to begin using publicly shared Facebook and Instagram content to train its artificial intelligence system, "Meta AI" unless users opt out by the day before.

The move affects all content publicly shared on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

According to the company, private messages and content from minors are excluded. However, data protection authorities and the Consumer Protection Agency of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have raised concerns. The agency has called for further review by the Higher Regional Court in Cologne, but so far, Meta has been allowed to proceed.

The court justified its decision by stating that the content in question is already accessible online, even if not indexed by search engines.

Importantly, Meta is not asking for user consent. Instead, it is offering users the chance to object. The opt-out deadline is 26 May–just one day before AI training is set to begin.

To object, users must fill out a form available online for Facebook and Instagram. More information is available on the official website of Germany’s Consumer Protection Agency.