Meta AI is facing major privacy backlash for publicly exposing user conversations—often without users realizing it. Sensitive chats involving medical, legal, and personal issues have appeared openly on Meta’s AI app and across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The problem: After users submit questions, the app offers a “share” button. This sends the conversation to Meta’s Discover feed, making private chats visible to anyone—no login required. A teacher’s arbitration email thread, for example, was found fully accessible, along with other sensitive discussions.
The issue snowballed after multiple reports called the app a “privacy disaster.” Users linked their AI chats to personal social media profiles, raising even bigger privacy flags. 
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to monetize Meta AI’s 1 billion monthly users by adding paid options and sponsored recommendations. But users might not expect their private data to hit a public feed or be tied to ads.
Meta spokesperson Daniel Roberts told WIRED:
“Users’ chats with Meta AI are private unless users go through a multistep process to share them on the Discover feed.”
The chatbot itself admitted:
“Some users might unintentionally share sensitive info due to misunderstandings about platform defaults or changes in settings over time.”
Meta does not currently offer clear in-app warnings on what “sharing” entails. When asked if conversations get used for advertising or training, Meta AI responded:
“Your conversations with me are used to improve the model and might be reviewed by our team to ensure quality. We may also use your conversations to train our models to be more helpful and accurate. However, we take steps to protect your privacy.”
Users who want privacy can toggle settings in the Meta AI app under Data & Privacy to keep prompts visible only to themselves. Avoiding the share button is critical.
On WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, AI chats are not end-to-end encrypted and may be used for training unless users file objection requests through the Privacy Center.
Meta introduced commands like /reset-ai on Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp to delete AI conversations.
Bottom line: If you use Meta AI, don’t assume your chat is private. Double check settings, never hit share lightly, and consider avoiding the app altogether.
More details: TechCrunch coverage | Meta Privacy Center.
