WhatsApp defends 'optional' AI tool that cannot be turned off

When you first use Meta AI in WhatsApp, it states the chatbot "can only read messages people share with it". "Meta can't read any other messages in your personal chats, as your personal messages remain end to end encrypted," it says. Meanwhile the Information Commissioner's Office told the BBC it would "continue to monitor the adoption of Meta AI's technology and use of personal data within WhatsApp". "Personal information fuels much of AI innovation so people need to trust that organisations are using their information responsibly," it said. "Organisations who want to use people's personal details to train or use generative AI models need to comply with all their data protection obligations, and take the necessary extra steps when it comes to processing the data of children."