Meta eases AI data tracking on employees after backlash

Meta is dialing back its controversial plan to monitor employee computer activity for artificial intelligence training, following significant internal dissent. The company announced new measures, including the ability for employees to pause data collection for up to 30 minutes and to request full exemptions from the program.

Stephane Kasriel, a vice president in Meta's Superintelligence Labs, acknowledged employee concerns in an internal memo. He stated that the team behind the software has implemented "several optimisations" to reduce its impact on laptop battery life. Previously, employees complained that the tracking software consumed excessive data, leading to higher home internet bills.

"While we remain confident in the privacy protections we put in place at launch, which went through several layers of risk review, we have heard your concerns about personal data on work devices, battery life, and wanting more control over when capturing happens," Kasriel wrote. The company had initially announced the installation of monitoring software on U.S.-based employees' computers to capture on-screen actions for training AI agents capable of performing workplace tasks.

The rollout, which coincided with a broader restructuring at Meta, faced fierce opposition, with some staff dubbing the company an "Employee Data Extraction Factory." The tracking effort also risks deepening Meta's regulatory scrutiny in the European Union, where tech firms already face legal challenges regarding data collection and usage.

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While we remain confident in the privacy protections we put in place at launch, which went through several layers of risk review, we have heard your concerns about personal data on work devices, battery life, and wanting more control over when capturing happens.