If You Think Your Meta AI Chats Are Private, Think Again
Meta’s standalone AI app has initiated privacy concerns after users began unintentionally publishing private conversations, exposing personal and potentially sensitive information to the public.
The app allows users to interact with Meta AI through text, audio, and image prompts. A “share” button within the interface enables users to post their chats.
However, users have reported that they were unaware these shared posts were being made public, particularly when logging in via Instagram accounts set to public visibility.
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Among the shared content are serious queries about legal troubles, tax evasion, and strange medical symptoms, often with full names and sensitive details.
One audio post featured a man inquiring why “some farts stink more than other farts,” while another user asked the AI how to meet “big b**ty women,” unaware that the entire world could hear.
AI-generated images haven’t fared much better, with public posts featuring Mark Zukerburg pregnant with a big belly getting married to a huge bug and Goku celebrating Russia Day, giving the app an unintentional meme-factory vibe.
Public posts on the app have included queries related to tax evasion, legal concerns involving named individuals, medical symptoms, and home addresses.
Some audio clips also contain private or inappropriate content, which has circulated widely online. Experts, including cybersecurity researcher Rachel Tobac, have identified numerous instances where users unknowingly disclosed highly personal details.
The lack of visible privacy settings and vague indications of where and how shared conversations are published have led to criticism from privacy advocates.
The design choice to make shared prompts public by default has been described as a significant oversight, particularly given Meta’s past controversies involving data privacy.
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Despite growing backlash, Meta has not issued a formal comment on the matter. Analysts note that the app, launched on April 29, has only garnered 6.5 million downloads—relatively low for a company of Meta’s scale—further suggesting hesitancy or mistrust among users.
