Meta has paused its controversial employee tracking program, the Model Compatibility Initiative (MCI), following an internal data leak that exposed potentially sensitive information collected through the tool. While Meta claims no data was improperly accessed by employees, the move comes amid ongoing privacy concerns and protests from workers.

The MCI collects data such as mouse movements, keystrokes, and screen content to train AI systems to mimic human interaction with software. Since its April launch in the US, employees have been vocal about their objections, citing privacy breaches and loss of personal freedom.

Despite initial resistance, Meta executives maintained that the program was necessary for advancing artificial intelligence. However, an internal security breach on Monday highlighted significant vulnerabilities, leading to a company-wide shock as MCI was abruptly halted.

The incident has sparked further debate about corporate responsibility in data privacy and worker rights, with some former employees describing it as “a mess” due to leadership failing to address raised concerns adequately. This pause could signal a shift in Meta’s approach or merely a temporary measure before resuming the program.