Ilya Vasilenko
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Llama 4:
What you can and can't do

Introduction

Llama4 EU 230

Meta has released Llama 4, its latest multimodal large language model capable of processing video, audio, images, and text. The company plans to integrate Llama 4 into its products, including smartphones and Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses.

But not in the EU. The release comes with an updated license and acceptable use policy. This article explores key restrictions and opportunities associated with the new model.


A Pinch of History

Previously, Meta launched a large-scale user data collection campaign in the EU, using an opt-out mechanism. Users were unable to directly opt out of having their Facebook and Instagram data used for AI training; instead, they had to navigate a complex request form. The privacy organization noyb strongly criticized this approach.

Following 11 complaints filed by noyb, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced that Meta has committed not to process EU/EEA user data for undefined "artificial intelligence techniques."

In response to these regulatory developments, Meta has blocked direct access to Llama 4 for companies and individuals based in the EU. This move likely means that Meta's AI-enhanced products—such as its smartphones and Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses—will either be unavailable in the EU or offer limited functionality.

1. Direct use prohibited for EU entities and citizens

In short: If you are a company in the EU or you are a EU citizen, you cannot use Llama 4.

The Llama 4 Acceptable Use Policy explicitly states that the rights granted under the Llama 4 Community License Agreement do not extend to individuals domiciled in, or companies with a principal place of business in, the European Union (EU). This restriction applies even for academic purposes:

"With respect to any multimodal models included in Llama 4, the rights granted under Section 1(a) of the Llama 4 Community License Agreement are not being granted to you if you are an individual domiciled in, or a company with a principal place of business in, the European Union." (Llama 4 Acceptable Use Policy)

2. Non-EU Organizations Can Incorporate Llama 4 into Their Products and Sell to the EU

Non-EU organizations are permitted to develop products incorporating Llama 4 and distribute these products within the EU. This is clarified in the FAQ section:

"Yes, if you are a company with a principal place of business outside of the EU, you may distribute products or services that contain the Llama multimodal models in accordance with your standard global distribution business practices." (Llama FAQ)

3. EU-Based Employees of Non-EU Organizations Can Participate in Development

Individuals in the EU who are employed by non-EU organizations can still participate in the development of products using Llama 4. The license extends to the non-EU based company, allowing their EU-based employees to work on Llama 4 projects:

"The employee may use the Llama multimodal models within the scope of the employee's work for the non-EU based company, since the license extends to the non-EU based company." (Llama FAQ)

4. Attribution Requirement: "Built with Llama"

Any product that incorporates Llama 4 must prominently display the attribution "Built with Llama." This requirement ensures that Meta's contribution is acknowledged:

"If you distribute or make available the Llama Materials (or any derivative works thereof), or a product or service (including another AI model) that contains any of them, you shall... prominently display 'Built with Llama' on a related website, user interface, blogpost, about page, or product documentation." (Llama 4 Community License Agreement)

5. Naming Derivative Models with "Llama" as Prefix

Any derivative models created using Llama 4 must include "Llama" at the beginning of their name. This helps maintain transparency about the origins of the model:

"If you use the Llama Materials or any outputs or results of the Llama Materials to create, train, fine tune, or otherwise improve an AI model, which is distributed or made available, you shall also include 'Llama' at the beginning of any such AI model name." (Llama 4 Community License Agreement)

So, What's Next?

The battle between EU regulators—supported, willingly or not, by privacy advocates like noyb—and non-EU big tech companies has only just begun. Hitting the right balance between protecting users' data and enabling AI technologies from which those same users benefit is a big challenge.

The ban introduced in the Llama 4 license sets a troubling precedent: it could encourage other U.S. companies to exclude the EU from future innovation. On the other hand, loosening regulatory measures may come at the cost of individual data protection.

What happens next? Only time—and history—will tell.

References

  1. https://www.llama.com/faq/ - Llama FAQ (including a section on restrictions for the EU).
  2. https://github.com/meta-llama/llama-models/.../llama4/LICENSE - Llama License.
  3. https://github.com/meta-llama/llama-models/.../llama4/USE_POLICY.md - Llama Acceptable Use Policy.
Ilya Vasilenko
ILYA VASILENKO