GoKawiilMeta's controversial surveillance tool, which tracked staff's keystrokes, mouse clicks and content to train the company's AI models, didn't quite work out as planned. The Model Capability Initiative, which was implemented in April and strongly opposed by staff, has been paused following an incident in which employee data became accessible to the entire company.
Over the last several weeks, more than 1,600 Meta employees, including software engineers, research scientists and designers, signed a petition calling on the company to stop collecting and repurposing employee computer data.
"We collectively believe that empowering individuals and communities through building responsible AI includes respecting their boundaries and privacy," the petition states. "Any approach to AI that relies on intrusive, coercive, non-consensual data collection contradicts that principle."
Business Insider reported that the software tracked apps and programs such as Gmail, GChat and Metamate, an employee AI assistant, as part of its data collection. The data-tracking software also captured screenshots. It's unclear if it will be reinstated.
Citing an internal security notice and information from three Meta employees, Wired reported that private conversations, prompts, transcriptions, and performance reviews were exposed to "anyone inside the company."
In a statement obtained by Wired, a Meta spokesperson said the company was investigating the incident and would stop data tracking indefinitely.
"We have carefully designed this program with privacy safeguards, and while we have no indication at this time that any data was improperly accessed by Meta employees, we're pausing it while we investigate," the spokesperson said.
A representative for Meta did not respond to CNET's request for comment.
Employers ramp up AI use
Meta, which is spending at least $135 billion on AI infrastructure this year, is among several major tech companies ramping up AI investment, including Amazon ($200 billion), Microsoft ($190 billion), and Alphabet ($185 billion).
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