Meta has added its AI assistant, Meta AI, to all its apps, like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. It can answer questions, create images, and suggest content. However, this integration raises real privacy concerns about how your data is collected, stored, and used.
A lot of people worry that their chats and posts are being used to train AI models. (Meta Confirms Use of Public Facebook & Instagram Posts for AI Training, 2024) In some places, you can object to this use of your data. But for most users, there isn’t an easy way to turn it off.
This guide explains the privacy risks of Meta AI and shows you how to limit its presence on your accounts and protect your personal information.
The privacy risks of using Meta AI
Before using any AI assistant, it’s important to know the privacy risks. Meta’s business depends on data, and its AI works the same way. Your interactions, public posts, and some chats may be used to train and improve its systems.
Here’s a breakdown of the key privacy risks:
- Your data helps train Meta’s models. Meta can access your conversations with Meta AI and public posts on Facebook and Instagram to train its AI. Sensitive details, like credit card info or private family photos mentioned in chats, might be reviewed by people or used in training.
- Opt-out rights are limited. Only people in places like the EU, UK, and Japan can formally object to their data being used for AI training because of privacy laws like the GDPR. Most users in the US and other countries don’t have this protection, so their data is more at risk. (Users can object to the use of the data from their profiles for AI training purposes, 2025)
- AI chats have been exposed publicly. In June 2025, a BBC report showed that Meta AI searches and prompts were made public on a "Discover" feed. Sometimes, these posts included usernames and profile photos, making it easy to link queries to real accounts. (Ticong, 2025)
- Your conversations will be used for ads. From December 16, 2025, Meta will use data from your chats with its AI chatbot to target ads to you across its platforms. If you’re not in a region with strong privacy laws, you can’t opt out. (Meta won't allow users to opt out of targeted ads based on AI chats, 2025)
How to limit Meta AI on Facebook
Meta AI is built directly into Facebook Messenger. You'll find it in the search bar labeled Ask Meta AI or Search and as a small icon in your chat screen. When you type in the search box, you receive AI-generated suggestions, and tapping them opens a direct chat with the assistant. (Doe & Smith, 2025)
Currently, there is no official way to disable Meta AI on Facebook Messenger. (Can You Disable META AI? What You Need to Know, 2024) The best course of action is to avoid interacting with it. If you have already started a conversation, you can delete the chat thread. However, this does not delete the data Meta has already collected from that interaction.
Because of the privacy risks, don’t share personal information with the AI, like your routines, locations, or family details.
How to limit Meta AI on Instagram
On Instagram, Meta AI shows up in the search bar, in a special "AIs" section, and can be tagged in direct messages with @MetaAI. (Where to find Meta AI in Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram—and what you can do with it, 2024)
Like on Facebook, you can’t turn off Meta AI on Instagram. It’s built into search and messaging. (Meta won’t allow users to opt out of targeted ads based on AI chats, 2025) You can delete your chat history with the assistant, but Meta still keeps the data. Also, if someone tags @MetaAI in a group chat, your messages there may be processed by the AI.
How to limit Meta AI on WhatsApp
Meta AI is also part of WhatsApp. You’ll find it in the search bar, as a chat icon, and it can be added to any group or private chat by tagging @MetaAI. (Doffman, 2025)
As with Meta’s other apps, you can’t turn off Meta AI on WhatsApp. It’s a permanent part of the app. (Meta AI integrated into WhatsApp without user consent, raising privacy concerns, 2025) You can delete your chat with the assistant, but Meta keeps those conversations for AI training. WhatsApp also doesn’t let you formally opt out of AI interactions right now. (WhatsApp introduces privacy feature to block Meta AI, 2025)
How to opt out of Meta AI data usage
If you live in a place with privacy laws, you can ask Meta not to use your information for its AI.
- Log in to your Facebook account.
- Go to Meta’s Privacy Center page to make privacy rights requests. In the app, you can find this by going to Privacy Center, then Meta AI, then object.
- Make sure your location is set correctly so you see the options for your region.
- Find the section called How can I object to the processing of my information? and select it.
- You will see different forms to fill out. The two most relevant are:
- 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 AI chat interactions for training.
- I want to object to the use of my information from third parties for Meta AI: This covers data about you from public websites or data licensed from other companies.
- Fill out and submit the right form. Meta will email you a confirmation when your request is processed. (Check if an email is really from Facebook, 2025)
Remember, these requests only stop future data collection. Data already used to train Meta’s AI can’t be removed. You’ll also need to send separate requests for each account, unless they’re linked in your Accounts Center.
The only true solution
AI assistants from Big Tech AI assistants from big tech companies are getting harder to avoid. On Meta’s platforms, you can’t fully turn off the AI, and even opting out of requests doesn’t guarantee your data won’t be used. To protect your privacy, stop using Meta’s apps. Even then, you can't erase data that has already been used for AI training, and other users can still share information about you. (Meta AI Data Usage Hoax Misleads Users, 2024)
If you care about digital privacy, try to limit your interactions with Meta AI, check your privacy settings often, and think carefully about what you share online. You might want to use privacy-focused alternatives that don’t collect or misuse your data. For example, encrypted cloud storage like Proton Drive lets you share photos securely, and private AI assistants like Lumo give you AI features without logging your chats. (Proton Drive: Cloud Storage App, 2023)