Meta AI on WhatsApp Now Fuels targeted Ads – Here’s How to Opt Out
San José, Costa Rica – Users engaging with Meta AI within WhatsApp might potentially be unknowingly contributing to more personalized advertising across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. While not automatic,conversations with the AI assistant can be used to tailor ads related to discussed topics – from travel plans to health concerns – if a user links their WhatsApp account to other Meta services. This revelation has prompted questions about user privacy and control over data, leading many to seek ways to deactivate the feature.
The integration of Meta AI into whatsapp, allowing for queries and image generation, comes with a privacy trade-off.According to Meta, data collected from both written and spoken interactions with the AI serves as a signal for advertising personalization. A query about vacations, as an example, could trigger promotions for hotels or tourist destinations in a user’s Facebook or Instagram feed. However, Meta clarifies that this data collection only applies to users who connect their WhatsApp account with other Meta platforms.
Why Deactivate?
The core concern revolves around the potential for highly targeted advertising based on sensitive, personal conversations. While Meta states the change doesn’t apply to those who don’t use Meta AI, and interactions aren’t used for ads if WhatsApp isn’t linked to other Meta accounts, many users prefer to keep their conversations private and avoid even the possibility of ad personalization. Deactivating Meta AI within WhatsApp offers a direct way to limit data collection and maintain greater control over personal facts.
How to Deactivate Meta AI on whatsapp:
Currently, there isn’t a single “off” switch for Meta AI within WhatsApp. The process involves leaving the specific chat where you’ve initiated a conversation with the AI.
- Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp submission on your mobile device.
- Locate the AI Chat: Find the chat thread where you’ve been interacting with Meta AI. It will be labeled as a chat with Meta AI.
- Exit the chat: simply navigate away from the Meta AI chat.As of now, this prevents further interaction and data collection from that specific instance.
Meta confirmed that users who do not utilize Meta AI will not be subject to this advertising personalization. The company also stated that this change cannot be completely disabled, but choosing not to engage with the assistant directly impacts the ads a user will see.
(Source: Grupo de Diarios América (GDA), as reported by La Nación)
