Meta puts a halt to training its generative AI tools in Brazil 

Meta has suspended the use of its AI assistant after Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) banned the company from training its AI models on personal data from Brazilians. The move puts a dent in Facebook’s attempt to build out its AI products in Brazil, a market with more than 200 million people.

As cited in the official document, the Brazilian authority said that the preventive measure is due to “the imminent risk of serious harm and irreparable or difficult-to-repair damage to the fundamental rights of guardians.” 

Additionally, the ANPD set a daily fine of 50,000 reais in case of non-compliance.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the decision in a statement to TechCrunch, saying, “We decided to suspend genAI features that were previously live in Brazil while we engage with the ANPD to address their questions around genAI.”

Meta has already been training its AI using user-generated content in the U.S. and other markets for several years. But in May, Meta had to pause plans to train its AI models in Europe and the U.K. after the Irish Data Protection Commission pushed back against these plans.