Meta is facing scrutiny over claims that it may be scanning users’ entire phone camera rolls without explicit consent, sparking concern among users who claim they were not notified of this feature activation.
Reports indicate that Facebook has automatically enabled two toggles within user settings, allowing for “custom sharing” of their camera roll. According to reports, when the feature is active, Facebook analyzes camera roll images, including dates, identified people, and objects within the photos. This analysis is then used to suggest albums, collages, recap posts, or AI-generated versions of the users’ images. While Meta requires camera roll access for uploading and sharing images, the automatic activation of this feature raises questions about the scanning of images that users have not explicitly uploaded.
Meta has stated that the photo suggestions generated through this scanning process are only visible to the individual user and will not be used for targeted advertising. However, the lack of user notification regarding the feature’s activation remains a point of contention.
Users can disable the Facebook custom sharing feature by following a series of steps. First, open the Facebook app and ensure you’re signed in. Then, navigate to the Menu section, usually located in the top right-hand corner. Select “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings.” Scroll down and find “Camera roll sharing suggestions” and tap it. Turn off both toggles labeled “Custom sharing suggestions from your camera roll” and “Get camera roll suggestions when you’re browsing Facebook.” If the toggles are blue, the feature is active; tapping them to turn grey will deactivate camera roll sharing.
