Are Tech Companies Using Your Private Data to Train AI Models? What You Need to Know Before December 16th

AI is advancing faster than ever — but so is the use of your personal data. As major tech companies race to roll out new AI tools, many users are left wondering: How much of my information is being used, and can I opt out?

With Meta’s newest policy rolling out on December 16th, now is the time to understand what data is being used, what isn’t, and what you can (and can’t) control.

Meta: Facebook, Instagram, Threads & WhatsApp

Meta's new policy has caused widespread concern because many assumed it meant private messages, photos, and voice notes would be fed into AI training systems.

The reality is more nuanced:

What Meta Does Not Use

·       Private messages in Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger

·       Private photos or voice messages

·       Any content explicitly marked as private

What Meta Does Use

·       Public posts, photos, reels, comments

·       Public profile content

·       Mentions of people without Meta accounts in public posts (meaning even non-users can be included indirectly)

Meta also uses your interactions with Meta AI to personalise your content feeds.For example:Ask Meta AI about hiking → You may suddenly see ads for hiking boots.

Can you opt out?

❌ No. Meta gives no general opt-out from AI training on public data.WhatsApp users can turn off Meta AI per chat, but not globally.

Google: Gmail, Drive, Search & Gemini

Google’s AI system, Gemini Deep Research, can access your private information — but only with your permission.

What Google Can Access (If Enabled)

·       Gmail

·       Google Drive

·       Google Chat

·       Search history

·       Calendar events and smart features

Google’s smart features for Gmail and Google Workspace can also analyse content to:

·       Suggest replies

·       Build calendar events

·       Generate summaries

Can you opt out?

✔ Yes.

·       Turn off smart features in Gmail & Workspace

·       Avoid signing into Gemini or use temporary chats

·       Do not grant permission for Gemini to access other Google apps

Google still retains its general privacy policy, but you can block AI training on your specific communications.

LinkedIn: Profiles & Public Content

LinkedIn now uses members’ public profile data and public posts to train Microsoft’s AI tools.

What LinkedIn Uses

·       Public posts

·       Public profile details

What LinkedIn Does NOT Use

·       Private messages

·       Private content

Microsoft also receives some LinkedIn data to provide personalised ads.

Can you opt out?

✔ Yes. Very easily.

Go to:Settings → Data Privacy → Data for Generative AI Improvement → Off

You can also disable personalised ads.

Why This Matters

As AI continues to evolve, the tech giants behind it are relying on massive amounts of training data — and much of that comes from the everyday content users post online.

The problem?Transparency is inconsistent, controls vary wildly between companies, and many users don’t realise how much of their public content is being harvested.