Brazilian justice prohibits Meta from using press materials to train artificial intelligence

Brazilian Justice has provisionally banned Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, from collecting and using materials created by media organizations to train artificial intelligence systems. The decision was issued on Tuesday following a request by three national associations representing journalists, publications, and radio and television broadcasters.

Judge Guilherme Madeira Dezem suspended provisions in Meta’s new terms of use for companies, which were due to take effect on November 20. According to the associations, these provisions required media organizations to surrender journalistic content free of charge as a condition for using the company’s platforms.

The judge found that the harm could become irreversible if the materials had already been used to train artificial intelligence systems. Meta will not be allowed to penalize media organizations that refuse to provide the content. If the ruling is not complied with, the company faces a daily fine of one million reais, equivalent to approximately €162,000, until a final decision is issued.

Press associations consider this the first ruling of its kind favorable to a media coalition. The decision comes after criticism of Meta’s role in the campaign for Brazil’s presidential election and following President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s promise to regulate social media nationwide.