Not even death can stop AI from using your data
The “dead internet theory” arose in 2021 in response to the growing dehumanization of social media spaces. According to observers, artificial intelligence (AI) generated content inexplicably trended through the assistance of bots and inorganic engagement. High follow counts and considerable social media mileage, in turn, legitimized such content to real users, leading them to further its reach within their own circles.
In short, For You pages are artificially curated, and social media users are unwittingly following the algorithm’s flow without question.
Practically dismissed as your typical conspiracy theory—while the internet and social media platforms contain AI and all sorts of bots—these today are widely considered tools in a predominantly human-run space. But following Meta’s recently acquired patent that allows AI to mirror someone’s social media activity, even in the event of death, well, now they’re just giving us more of a reason to distrust AI.
In the cloud, literally and figuratively
What happens to social media accounts in the event of death? Particularly for Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, there are two options: memorialize or delete.
Memorialized accounts contain all previously shared posts and remain visible to the audience they were shared with. These accounts don’t appear in suggestions tabs such as Explore, people you may know, and birthday reminders. Such accounts also have a “remembering” placed beside their name, and cannot be logged into.
Meanwhile, for other social media platforms such as X or TikTok, there is no memorialize option, and accounts can either be left inactive or deleted.
However, Meta could potentially add a third, more dystopian option.
Meta did what?!
Last December, the social media giant was reportedly granted a patent that allows AI to simulate an individual’s social media activity in cases of extended absence or death.
The patent was originally outlined to assist high-performing profiles, particularly content creators who decide to temporarily step away from social media platforms—their accounts would continue to engage with other profiles and operate as if nothing had happened. Permitted actions range from likes and comments to sharing posts and even sending voice messages to their followers.
However, the patent filing reads that this would be “much more severe and permanent” if the user in question is deceased.
While this bears all the signals of a “Black Mirror” future, Meta does maintain that they don’t plan to actually act upon the patent concretely. Though, is that really going to convince anyone?
Interestingly, Microsoft secured a patent for something similar in 2021—a conversational chatbot modeled after a friend, a relative, an acquaintance, a celebrity, a fictional character, or even a historical figure. Though, as early as then, even Microsoft’s leadership declined to scale this up into anything tangible with Tim O’Brien, Microsoft’s director for cloud and AI platforms, alluding to it as “disturbing.”
Between fear-mongering and genuine concern
As it is, Meta’s own assertion that they will not act upon the patent should be solace enough for those holding concerns. However, even today, there is an existing demand for AI companionship in the form of friendship or even romantic relations in certain circles of society.
With that in mind, what’s going to stop grieving families from asking for an AI copy of their loved ones if the technology existed? And where there is demand, what’s going to stop social media giants from taking on a possibly lucrative opportunity?
