Meta workers outraged over software tracking keystrokes, mouse movements | Latest Tech News
Meta staff are fuming over a new inner software that tracks their clicks and keystrokes — the latest flashpoint in the company’s all-in push on artificial intelligence.
Staffers reacted with alarm after studying the software would monitor mouse movements, typing and on-screen exercise to help practice Meta’s AI systems, according to inner communications considered by Business Insider.
One worker wrote, “This makes me super uncomfortable. How do we opt out?” — a remark that shortly grew to become the top response, as others flooded the thread with offended reactions, including a wave of “angry face” emojis.
Mark Zuckerberg is pushing Meta deeper into AI, even as inner tensions rise over new insurance policies. Getty Images
Employees have been reacting to a new inner program first reported by GWN, which said Meta would practice its AI systems by analyzing keystrokes and mouse movements on workers’ computer systems.
Executives told workers there could be no option to choose out on company-issued devices, while Meta said this system contains safeguards and is restricted to work-related purposes.
The backlash comes as Meta ramps up a sweeping — and expensive — overhaul of its AI strategy, pouring billions into infrastructure, expertise and new merchandise in a bid to catch up with rivals like OpenAI and Google.
Meta is also reported to be on the verge of slashing its workforce, with the company planning to cut about 10% of its global employees — or roughly 8,000 workers — beginning May 20 and doubtlessly more later this 12 months as it pivots toward AI-driven roles.
The layoffs are half of a broader effort to reshape the company around artificial intelligence, with executives pushing to automate duties beforehand dealt with by human workers, according to GWN.
One Meta worker wrote, “This makes me super uncomfortable. How do we opt out?” — a remark that shortly grew to become the top response. AP
“If we’re building agents to help people complete everyday tasks using computers, our models need real examples of how people actually use them — things like mouse movements, clicking buttons, and navigating dropdown menus,” a Meta spokesperson told The Post.
“To help, we’re launching an internal tool that will capture these kinds of inputs on certain applications to help us train our models. There are safeguards in place to protect sensitive content, and the data is not used for any other purpose.”
The tracking software — recognized internally as the Model Capability Initiative — captures staff’ mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes while they work, and can also take periodic snapshots of what’s on their screens, according to inner memos cited by GWN.
Meta is reported to be on the verge of slashing its workforce, with the company planning to cut about 8,000 workers beginning May 20. Bloomberg via Getty Images
The software runs only on work-related purposes and web sites, with the purpose of accumulating real-world data on how people truly use computer systems.
Meta says the data will probably be used to practice AI systems to better mimic on a regular basis human habits — such as navigating menus, utilizing keyboard shortcuts and finishing routine digital duties — areas where current fashions still wrestle.
The company has said the data received’t be used for worker efficiency reviews and that safeguards are in place to shield delicate content, though the initiative is a component of a broader push to construct AI brokers succesful of handling work duties autonomously.
Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that Meta staffers could have the option of chatting with a digital AI-powered clone of CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
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