How to turn off MetaAI on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp?

Meta has been targeting user data for some time, from content recommendations and ad targeting to even generative AI tools for chatbots. While the company assures users that it doesn't sell the data directly, it uses the information to improve its algorithms and for third-party stakeholders.

How does Meta AI collect data?

Likes, chats, comments, shares, and interactions… Meta collects all user behavior on the platform to train its AI models. These models analyze user habits to make both content recommendations and ad targeting more personalized. This presents a significant problem, especially in regions like Europe, where privacy laws are strict. Indeed, some lawsuits regarding this issue are still ongoing.

More importantly, this situation makes it difficult to use some apps. Therefore, many users want to remove MetaAI from WhatsApp , Facebook, and Instagram . Meta doesn't want this feature completely removed from the apps. However, there are some ways to limit usage by ignoring the objection form and AI. Let's move on to these methods:

How to turn off MetaAI on Facebook?

- Open the app or log in to your account from the desktop. - Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy Center. - Go to the AI ​​at Meta tab and click Submit an objection request.

- Enter the email address associated with your account and explain how the processing of your data affects you.

- Submit the form.

How to turn off MetaAI on Instagram?

- Open the app. - Go to Settings & Activity > Privacy Center. - Go to the 'AI at Meta' tab and select Submit an objection request. - Add your email address and a brief explanation of how data usage affects you.

- Submit your request.

These actions allow you to officially object to Meta's use of your data for AI training. The situation is a bit different in the WhatsApp app. Unfortunately, a similar option is currently unavailable for WhatsApp users. While many users don't want AI use, it's not possible to completely disable it. Meta recently removed the setting that disabled AI features in the app. There's always the possibility of adding it in the future, but for now, you can minimize usage by hiding or ignoring it.

How to turn off MetaAI in WhatsApp?

As I mentioned, Meta AI can't be completely removed from WhatsApp. However, you can remove the shortcut to the assistant by hiding your chat from the active chat list. To do this, follow these steps.

- Open the chat with Meta AI. - Tap the three vertical dots icon in the upper right corner. - Select “Delete chat” and confirm the deletion.

Once this process is complete, the AI ​​will remain active in the background. This will leave you with a cleaner experience, free of unnecessary elements. If you want to re-enable it later, you can find it in the search bar or in your contact list.

Is it possible to completely remove the use of Meta AI?

Meta can actually use not only your posts but also posts tagged by others in AI training. So, even if you don't share anything, you could still find yourself participating in AI training. Therefore, submitting a data processing objection on Facebook and Instagram is considered the most effective way to increase privacy control. This is also important for future legal processes in regions like Europe. For now, the best thing WhatsApp users can do is keep their interaction with AI features to a minimum.

If you continue to use meta platforms, you can at least submit your objection to data use in the Privacy Center. It's also important to review your device's camera access permissions and disable features like photo syncing. True privacy lies not only in limiting the data you share but also in limiting what you unknowingly collect.