Meta is set to track the mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes of its US-based employees in an effort to train better AI agents. According to internal memos, the Model Capability Initiative software will monitor specific work-related applications and websites, using periodic screenshots for context.
The company claims this data will help improve AI performance on tasks that require human-like interaction with computers, such as navigating menus or clicking buttons. Spokesperson Andy Stone emphasized that the collected data would not be used to assess employees' performance.
However, similar monitoring of European Meta staff could face legal challenges due to stringent privacy laws in the EU. In 2018, the company faced potential legal issues for forcing users to opt out of content being used for AI training rather than opting in.
The initiative highlights a growing trend where tech giants use employee data to enhance their products, raising questions about work-life balance and digital privacy.
