Meta can use public content to train AI software, German court rules
US tech giant Meta can use Facebook and Instagram posts from EU users to train its artificial intelligence software Meta AI, a German court ruled on Friday.
The case before the Higher Regional Court in Cologne was brought by the consumer protection agency in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, accusing Meta of violating EU data protection rules.
From May 27, the US parent company plans to use public content including posts and comments made by adult users on Instagram and Facebook in the European Union to train its AI platform, unless users actively object.
Content posted by users under the age of 18 will not be used, according to Meta, which rejected that its plans would violate EU law.
"This training, which follows the successful launch of Meta AI in Europe last month, will better support millions of people and businesses in the EU by teaching AI at Meta to better understand and reflect their cultures, languages and history," the company said in an announcement on April 14.
"People's interactions with Meta AI – like questions and queries – will also be used to train and improve our models," it added.
Presiding Judge Oliver Jörgens on Friday ruled that the consumer association's complaint was unfounded.
The court found that the use of the data for AI training was lawful even without user consent as Meta is pursuing a legitimate purpose with the use of the data which cannot be achieved by other, less intrusive means.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Asia share markets, dollar wary on tariff news
By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian share markets made a wary start to the week on Monday as investors navigated the shifting sands of White House tariff policy, while awaiting key U.S. jobs data and a widely expected cut in European interest rates. There was little obvious reaction to President Donald Trump's threat late Friday to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to 50%, beginning on June 4, a sudden twist that drew the ire of European Union negotiators. Speaking on Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump would soon speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping to iron out a dispute over critical minerals. White House officials continued to play down a court ruling that Trump had overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from U.S. trading partners. "The court ruling will complicate the path ahead on trade policy, but there remains an ample set of provisions available to the administration to deliver its desired results," said Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan. "There is a commitment to maintaining a minimum U.S. tariff rate of at least 10% and imposing further sector tariff increases," he added. "An increase in ASEAN to discourage transhipment looks likely, and the bias for higher tariffs on US-EU trade persists." Markets will be particularly interested to see if Trump goes ahead with the 50% tariff on Wednesday, or backs off as he has done so often before. In the meantime, caution reigned and MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan went flat. Japan's Nikkei fell 1.1%, while South Korean stocks dipped 0.1%. S&P 500 futures eased 0.2% and Nasdaq futures lost 0.3%. The S&P climbed 6.2% in May, while the Nasdaq rallied 9.6% on hopes final import levies will be far lower than the initial sky-high levels. Front-running the tariffs has already caused wild swings in the economy, with a contraction in the first quarter likely turning into a jump this quarter as imports fall back. The Atlanta Fed GDPNow estimate is running at an annualised 3.8%, though analysts assume this will slow sharply in the second half of the year. Data this week on U.S. manufacturing and jobs will offer a timely reading on the pulse of activity, with payrolls seen rising 130,000 in May while unemployment stays at 4.2%. EYEING UNEMPLOYMENT A rise in unemployment is one of the few developments that could get the Federal Reserve to start thinking of easing policy again, with investors having largely given up on a cut this month or next. A move in September is seen at around a 75% chance, though Fed officials have stopped well short of endorsing such pricing. There are at least 11 Fed speakers on the diary for this week, led by Fed Chair Jerome Powell later on Monday. Fed Governor Christopher Waller did say on Sunday that cuts remain possible later this year as he saw downside risks to economic activity and employment and upside risks to inflation from the tariffs. A softer jobs report would be a relief for the Treasury market, where 30-year yields continue to flirt with the 5% barrier as investors demand a higher premium to offset the ever-expanding supply of debt. The Senate this week will start considering a tax-and-spending bill that will add an estimated $3.8 trillion to the federal government's $36.2 trillion in debt. Across the Atlantic, the European Central Bank is considered almost certain to cut its rates by a quarter point to 2.0% on Thursday, while markets will be sensitive to guidance on the chance of another move as early as July. The Bank of Canada meets Wednesday and markets imply a 76% chance it will hold rates at 2.75%, while sounding dovish on the future given the tariff-fuelled risk of recession there. Widening rate spreads have so far offered only limited support to the U.S. dollar. "The greenback remains near the lower end of its post-2022 range and considerably weaker than interest rate differentials would imply," noted Jonas Goltermann, deputy chief markets economist at Capital Economics. "Sentiment around the greenback remains negative and it continues to look vulnerable to further bad news on the fiscal and trade policy fronts." On Monday, the dollar had dipped 0.2% on the yen to 143.79, while the euro edged up a fraction to $1.1353. [USD/] The greenback also slipped 0.1% on the Canadian dollar to 1.3727, getting no tailwind from Trump's threat of 50% tariffs on Canadian steel exports. In commodity markets, gold edged up 0.6% to $3,310 an ounce, having lost 1.9% last week. [GOL/] Oil prices bounced after OPEC+ decided to increase output in July by the same amount as it did in each of the prior two months, a relief to some who had feared an even bigger increase. [O/R] Brent rose $1.07 to $63.85 a barrel, while U.S. crude gained $1.18 to $61.95 per barrel. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
KONTAKTUM (former Berger Kommunkation) launches SignalDesk to Power Europe's Top Wellness Brands
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 1, 2025, 22:56 IST BERLIN, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After more than 15 years operating quietly under the name BERGER KOMMUNIKATION, one of Europe's most trusted backend communication infrastructures has officially rebranded and relaunched as KONTAKTUM. KONTAKTUM will now operate independently, with a sharpened focus on the wellness and health supplement industry across the EU. The new identity reflects the company's deep specialization in backend revenue systems — from multilingual customer support to advanced sales reactivation flows — for brands that ship thousands of units daily across Europe. While BERGER KOMMUNIKATION built its name in high-performance outbound operations, KONTAKTUM expands the model into a more modern, full-stack backend solution. That includes welcome call systems, cart recovery outreach, localized reactivation campaigns, and multilingual voice support — all designed to improve customer lifetime value (LTV) without disrupting frontend operations. 'Most brands focus on acquisition,' says a KONTAKTUM team lead. 'But the real margin lives in what happens after the sale — and that's exactly where we operate.' The new KONTAKTUM brand brings together years of operational know-how, a fully native-speaking team across 8 European languages, and a distributed team based in Berlin, Paris, Milan, and Barcelona. The company also confirmed the rollout of its proprietary backend management interface, internally known as SignalDesk — a platform that allows wellness brand operators to monitor backend flows, agent performance, and reactivation ROI in real time. This level of visibility is rare in the post-purchase ecosystem, especially in multilingual markets. With GDPR-compliant infrastructure and a white-label approach, KONTAKTUM acts as the invisible layer behind the most profitable wellness brands in the region. Brands remain in full control of the customer experience, while KONTAKTUM ensures that revenue is recovered, retained, and scaled silently in the background. The split from BERGER KOMMUNIKATION also comes with internal expansion: KONTAKTUM now manages over 1.8 million customer records per quarter, and the team has grown by over 60% in the past six months. 'We're not an agency. We're infrastructure,' says the KONTAKTUM operations team. 'That means brands plug us in and see the numbers move — quietly and consistently.' Although no client names have been disclosed, industry insiders confirm KONTAKTUM is currently working with multiple top-5 EU advertisers in the wellness space, handling full backend delivery for both new and recurring customer flows. For wellness brands looking to improve retention, reduce refunds, or build a backend that actually converts — KONTAKTUM appears to be the new name to know. Media Contact:Felix Hoffman [email protected] Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Kontaktum. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an 'as-is' basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Europe's Moonshot Moment: New Industry Report Suggests Now is Europe's Time to Lead in Global Software
Boardwave and McKinsey & Company release analysis that identifies five priority interventions to unlock growth opportunities to scale and retain global software companies LONDON, June 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe's software sector has a 'once-in-a-generation' opportunity to lead the next wave of global technology innovation – if it can overcome a persistent scale-up barrier. The joint report by Boardwave, the European software leadership network, and McKinsey & Company is to be released today. Titled Europe's Moonshot Moment: Scaling the European Tech Sector, the report - based on 100+ interviews and analysis of some of Europe's most senior technology leaders - calls for a coordinated push to transform the continent's strength in talent, innovation, and capital into enduring, global outcomes. The new research argues that conditions are aligning to create a breakout moment for the region's tech ecosystem. A Scaling Challenge but the Window Is Open The report finds that while Europe has matured as a tech hub with over 280 software companies generating more than €100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), too many still stall at the €30 million ARR mark. This bottleneck prevents promising companies from becoming global players, but this isn't due to a lack of the right ingredients. Europe has world-class talent, rising early-stage investment, and growing institutional support. What's needed is mobilisation: a collective effort across founders, investors, corporates, and governments to convert momentum into scale. From Fragmented Success to Continental Scale The report identifies five priority interventions to unlock growth: Expand late-stage 'scale-up' funding to help companies leap from €30M to €100M ARR Accelerate repeat founder ecosystems, turning exits into new ventures Boost cross-border mobility of go-to-market talent to scale sales and marketing Ignite enterprise demand for European software through procurement and incentives Strengthen public-private partnerships to de-risk innovation in strategic tech sectors "We're witnessing a real belief in the UK and Europe's ability to build the next generation of global champions. European tech stands at a pivotal moment, armed with talent, capital, and ambition. There's a sense of optimism and urgency across the ecosystem right now and it has everything it needs to succeed, but what's missing is coordinated scale," said Phill Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Boardwave. "Europe's technology landscape is shifting faster than at any point in the last two decades. The analysis in this report shows Europe already holds the essentials to create the world's next generation of software champions: deep talent pools, vibrant founder networks, and a rapidly maturing capital base," commented Ruben Schaubroeck, Senior Partner from McKinsey & Company. "Tectonic shifts – such as the rise of generative AI or the re-shoring of strategic supply chains – are opening new corridors of opportunity in Europe. The report offers founders, investors, and boards a common map and advice to harness today's tailwinds with urgency and turn Europe's strength into a wave of €1-billion-plus success stories." Europe's Momentum Is Building Several forces are converging to create what the report calls a "moonshot moment":- New technologies like generative AI are lowering barriers to global scale- Policy shifts are opening cross-border pathways, like the proposed "28th regime"- European success stories, such as Mistral, Celonis and Spotify, are inspiring the next wave- Public and private initiatives are expanding capital access and entrepreneurship support One of the most powerful enablers of scale, the report finds, is connection: between founders, talent, capital, and institutions. "We need to act as one innovation ecosystem, not 27 different ones," said Robinson. "That's what makes this Europe's moonshot moment. If we connect and act now, we can lead. And not just in Europe, but globally." About Boardwave Boardwave is Europe's leading network for ambitious software leaders. With over 2,200 members - founders, CEOs, NEDs, and Chairs - we provide the connections, insights, and support to help leaders scale smarter and faster. Our free membership unlocks tailored events, expert-led content, and direct access to top investors, advisors, and industry About McKinsey & Company McKinsey is a global management consulting firm committed to helping organisations accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth. They work with clients across the private, public, and social sectors to solve complex problems and create positive change for all their stakeholders. They combine bold strategies and transformative technologies to help organisations innovate more sustainably, achieve lasting gains in performance, and build workforces that will thrive for this generation and the This research is independent and reflects the views of the authors. It was not commissioned by any business, government or institution. Logo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Boardwave Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
