Meta Scales Back Employee Data Tracking Tech Over Privacy Concerns
- tech360.tv
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Meta is reducing elements of its plan to gather employee mouse movements, keystrokes, and other actions for AI training data.
The decision follows weeks of angry pushback from staffers regarding the internal data collection.
Vice President Stephane Kasriel of the AI model-building Superintelligence Labs unit announced the changes in an internal memo.
New controls will allow employees to pause the data collection for up to 30 minutes at a time.
Staffers can also request exemptions from the data initiative.
The software team introduced several optimisations to reduce the impact of the technology on computer battery life.
The adjustments came after employees complained that the tracking software was causing their home internet usage to spike.
Kasriel noted that while the team remains confident in the launch privacy protections, they heard employee concerns about personal data on work devices, battery life, and control.
Meta announced the tracking software installation on US-based employee computers to capture clicks, keystrokes, and mouse movements.
The company plans to use the information to train its artificial intelligence models to build AI agents that can perform work tasks autonomously.
The launch occurred during a far-reaching restructuring at Meta.
Staffers have delivery a backlash against the programme, likening Meta to an Employee Data Extraction Factory.
The initiative could deepen regulatory troubles for Meta in the European Union, where tech companies face legal clashes over how they collect and deploy data.
Meta is scaling back its employee tracking initiative following weeks of staff pushback.
Employees will now be allowed to pause the data collection for up to 30 minutes at a time.
The tracking software captures mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes to train autonomous AI agents.
Source: REUTERS
