Meta's AI assistant is now built into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. It's meant to answer questions and help create content, but it also brings up real privacy concerns. This guide explains the risks and shows you how to limit what Meta AI can access.Meta AI learns from what you do online. It looks at your public posts on Facebook and Instagram, and also at your direct chats with the AI. This means anything you share, like your daily habits or personal photos, could be collected, checked by people, and used to train Meta's AI. For many people, this is a big privacy concern.
Unfortunately, completely disabling Meta AI isn't an option. The assistant is embedded in search bars and messaging screens across all platforms. However, depending on where you live, you may have the right to object to your data being used for AI training. This article will show you how to submit an opt-out request and take other steps to protect your privacy.
The privacy risks of Meta AI
Meta AI does more than chat with you. It also collects your data. Knowing how it uses your information is the first step to protecting your privacy.
Your data is used for AI training.
Meta uses your public posts and your chats with its AI to improve its systems. This means personal details you share in what feels like a private chat, such as your credit card number or medical history, could be seen by human reviewers or used to train future AI models.
Not everyone can opt out.
Privacy laws such as the GDPR let people in the EU, UK, and some other regions object to their data being used. Most people in the United States and many other places do not have this protection. So, there is no sure way to stop Meta from using their information for AI training.
AI searches have been publicly exposed.
In June 2025, a glitch made some users' Meta AI searches show up on a public "Discover" feed. These posts sometimes included usernames and profile pictures, making them easy to trace. This shows how AI chats can unexpectedly become public.
Your AI chats will be used for targeted ads.
From December 2025, Meta will use data from your chats with its AI chatbot to target ads. Only users in places with strong privacy laws can opt out. For everyone else, there is no way to avoid this.
How to get rid of Meta AI
You can't fully remove Meta AI, but you can make it less visible on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The only way to be sure your future activity isn't used is to delete your Meta accounts. If you don't want to do that, here are some other steps you can take.
How to turn off Meta AI on Facebook
Meta AI is part of Facebook Messenger's search bar and shows up as a small icon in your chat screen. When you type in the search box, you'll see suggestions to "Ask Meta AI." If you select one, it opens a chat with the assistant. Yes, there is no way to disable Meta AI in Facebook Messenger. The best course of action is to avoid interacting with it. If you have existing chats with the AI, you can delete them, but this won't erase the data Meta has already collected.
How to turn off Meta AI on Instagram
On Instagram, Meta AI shows up in the search bar, under the "AIs" section, and can be tagged in direct messages with "@MetaAI."
As with Facebook, you cannot disable Meta AI on Instagram. You can delete conversations with the assistant, but any data from those chats may have already been collected. If someone else tags @MetaAI in a group chat, your messages could still be processed by the AI.
How to turn off Meta AI on WhatsApp
Meta AI is built into WhatsApp's search bar and appears as an icon on the main chat screen. Anyone in a group chat can add the assistant by tagging @MetaAI.
You can't fully turn off Meta AI on WhatsApp. It's a permanent feature. You can delete your chats with the AI, but Meta will still keep those records. Also, you can't submit an opt-out request for Meta AI chats on WhatsApp.
How to opt out of Meta AI data use
If you live in a regioIf you live in a place with privacy laws, you can object to Meta using your information for AI training.ook account.
- Navigate to Meta’s Privacy Center by visiting the Privacy Rights Requests page.
- Confirm your location to ensure you see the correct privacy options.
- Find the section titled, How can I object to the processing of my information? And select it.
- Choose the type of objection you want to file. You will need to submit a separate form for each request:
- I want to object to the use of my information for Meta AI: This request aims to stop Meta from using your public content and direct interactions with the AI.
- I want to object to the use of my information from third parties for Meta AI: This covers data that Meta sources from public websites or licenses from other companies.
- I have a different objection to the use of my information: This is a general option for other privacy concerns.
- Complete the form and submit it.
- Meta will send you an email to confirm once your request has been processed.
Keep in mind, these requests only affect future data collection. Any information already used to train Meta's models can't be removed. If you have separate Facebook and Instagram accounts, you need to submit a form for each, unless they are linked in the Accounts Center.
Take control of your data.
AI assistants are now common on platforms like Google and Meta. Since you can't fully turn off Meta AI, the best way to protect your privacy is to stop using Meta’s apps. But even if you delete your account, data already used for AI training will stay with Meta.
If you care about your digital privacy, try to limit how much you use Meta AI, check your privacy settings often, and think carefully about what you share online. If you want AI without giving up privacy, look for options like Lumo that don't log your chats or use them for training.
Ultimately, protectIn the end, protecting your personal information comes down to choosing your tools carefully. By picking services that put privacy first, you can keep control of your data and avoid invasive AI systems.