Overview

• The Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen has filed an interim injunction at the Oberlandesgericht Köln to stop Meta from using public user data for AI training starting May 27, 2025.
• Meta plans to process public posts from European Facebook and Instagram users under a 'legitimate interest' model, allowing users to opt out by May 26, 2025.
• The consumer group argues that Meta's approach violates GDPR and the Digital Markets Act, raising concerns about sensitive data, including minors’ information, being used irreversibly.
• Meta defends its compliance with European Data Protection Board guidelines and consultations with the Irish Data Protection Commission, emphasizing industry norms and user opt-out mechanisms.
• The court decision is pending, and the case underscores the ongoing tension between advancing AI innovation and protecting fundamental data privacy rights in Europe.