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In a significant shift, X (formerly Twitter) has updated its terms of service, eliminating users’ ability to opt out of having their content used to train its artificial intelligence model, named Grok. Before the change, the “content scraping ” feature was turned on by default, but users still had the option to disable it and not allow their content to be used to train AI. However, many users only discovered this option in late July, buried deep within the settings, raising concerns about transparency and compliance with data protection regulations, even then.
The updated terms state that starting November 15, 2024, X will be able to use, modify, and transmit all user content “in any and all media or distribution methods now known or later developed, for any purpose.” This sweeping change allows not only X but also third parties access to user content, which could be utilized for various commercial and research purposes without explicit consent.
Organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have voiced strong discontent with these changes, warning that they undermine user privacy and control. Critics argue that this policy could violate European data protection laws, which mandate that users should have a choice to opt in rather than being automatically included in data processing practices.
The Data Protection Commission has made X temporarily halt the processing of personal data from user posts made between May 7 and August 1, 2024, for AI training. However, this suspension only applies to users in EU and EEA member countries, leaving many users worldwide without similar protections.
As the landscape of digital privacy continues to evolve, X’s decision highlights a growing tension between user rights and the ambitions of tech companies to harness data for AI development. With little indication that X will reverse these changes, users may need to reassess their engagement on the platform.
