Facebook and Instagram users in the U.S. have had their content used to train Meta’s artificial intelligence programs for months. But many are only finding out about this because the tech giant is rolling out similar AI features in Europe.

Meta recently sent European users a notification about new privacy terms ahead of generative AI features taking effect in the region beginning late June. People on social media expressed skepticism about how their data and personal information will be used, and Instagram users like @sascha.kersch shared tips to limit what private information they share.

“(R)emember boomers posting stuff like ‘i do not consent to facebook’s new privacy policy, share this post or mark zuckerberg will get your firstborn child!’ yeah this time it’s not a joke,” they said in a post shared last week.

Under its privacy policy, Meta states that it uses “publicly” available information online and “information shared on Meta’s products and services” to train its models. This includes posts, photos and captions, but excludes private information such as the content in direct messages.

Meta is relying on a legal basis called “legitimate interests,” which states that the collection of users’ data — even without explicit consent — is beneficial to all parties due to improvements made to the company’s services.

European users have the option to opt out the content they post on Meta platforms under the General Data Protection Regulation’s “right to object” rule. The option seems to only be available in Europe, but people have reported that the process is tedious. Anyone who does not file an objection automatically consents to their data being used.

The tech company has implemented these services on U.S. platforms since September. Americans did not receive a similar notification — likely because Meta does not have a legal obligation to do so — and the privacy page does not contain the additional information. Users who try to opt out are regionally blocked by Meta.

The E.U. leads the U.S. in enforcing data privacy laws. Earlier this year, European lawmakers approved the landmark Artificial Intelligence Act, legislation first introduced in 2021 that requires transparency from tech companies and prohibits certain uses of technology. Analysts expect some rules to be implemented in a few years.

PC World, however, found a slight workaround for Americans to protect some of their information from Meta. Users can navigate to the Facebook Help Center to the “Data Subject Rights” page to submit a request to access, delete, or file a complaint about how personal data is being used by third parties to train AI.

This will limit the information shared. Meta might still use your data if you appear or are mentioned in photos or posts shared on its platforms. Some users have noted that the only way to deny Meta from using personal data is by deleting social media accounts on its platforms.

Another way to limit the data shared is by the “Your activity off Meta technologies” page, which has options to “control or disconnect the information businesses send to Meta” via apps and websites. There is also an option to prevent data shared by third parties in the future.

The Associated Press also suggested using Facebook’s stripped down mobile site — mbasic.facebook.com — to avoid unpopular AI features like the social network’s personal assistant.