Meta announced plans to begin training its generative AI models on publicly available content and user interactions within the European Union, aiming to make its AI systems more reflective of local languages, cultures, and humor.

The company said it would begin collecting public posts and comments shared by adults on Meta platforms—such as Facebook and Instagram—as well as user interactions with Meta AI tools, including chat queries. Meta stressed that private messages and content from users under 18 would not be used for training purposes.

EU-based users will receive in-app and email notifications explaining what types of data may be used and how it will enhance Meta’s AI. The messages will include a link to an objection form, allowing users to opt out at any time. Meta emphasized that the form is user-friendly and that all past and future objections will be honored.

The move follows the launch of Meta AI in the EU last month and aligns with the company’s broader strategy to build more regionally aware AI systems. “We believe we have a responsibility to build AI that’s not just available to Europeans, but is actually built for them,” Meta said in a blog post published April 14.

Meta said it delayed AI training in the EU last year pending regulatory clarity but resumed plans following legal guidance from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). The company claims its approach meets regulatory requirements and is more transparent than that of its industry peers.

By training models on European-specific content, Meta hopes to improve its AI’s ability to understand local dialects, sarcasm, and cultural context—key factors as its tools evolve into more advanced, multi-modal systems capable of processing text, images, and video.

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