The landscape of social media has been in a constant state of evolution, and Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, is no exception. A major development has recently come to light with X’s newly updated privacy policy, set to take effect on November 15, 2024. This new policy brings a range of changes, most notably regarding user data and its potential use for artificial intelligence (AI) training. Users must navigate these changes and understand how it could affect their data and privacy.
In this article, we will explore how X’s privacy policy has evolved, focusing on the inclusion of third-party collaborators in AI training, the storage duration of user data, the introduction of liquidated damages for scraping content, and how users can protect their data.
The Core Change: Sharing Data for AI Training
At the heart of X’s privacy policy update is a new provision allowing third-party collaborators to access and use user data to train AI models. According to the policy, unless users actively opt out, their posts, replies, and interactions on the platform could be harvested and utilized by third parties for AI training, including generative AI models.
This shift mirrors trends seen on other platforms like Reddit and media organizations, which have also started exploring data licensing as a new revenue stream in the wake of advertiser withdrawals and reduced profits. X, which has faced subscription struggles and advertiser boycotts under Musk’s leadership, is clearly turning to data as a means to keep itself afloat financially.
The policy explicitly states, “If you do not opt out, in some instances the recipients of the information may use it for their own independent purposes, including training their artificial intelligence models, whether generative or otherwise.” This means that X user data could be used for purposes that go far beyond what users may initially expect from a social media platform.
X’s Relationship With AI: Grok and Beyond
X’s involvement with AI isn’t new. Under Musk, X launched xAI’s Grok, an AI chatbot that was initially trained on X user data. This action raised concerns about the ethical and legal implications of using personal data without explicit consent. In August 2024, X faced an investigation from the Ireland Data Protection Commission (DPC) over concerns that the platform’s use of data to train Grok violated General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules. X agreed to stop processing data for Grok in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), ultimately avoiding any punitive action. However, the company’s new privacy policy suggests that data sharing could continue in other regions, potentially involving third-party AI companies.
This is significant because it indicates that X is looking beyond its own AI development to monetize user data through partnerships with other AI providers. In doing so, the platform is positioning itself as a major data supplier in the rapidly growing AI industry.
Monetizing Data: Liquidated Damages for Scraping
Another notable change in X’s updated privacy policy involves liquidated damages for scraping content. According to the new terms of service, any organization that scrapes X’s content and accesses more than 1,000,000 posts (including replies, images, and videos) in a 24-hour period will face a charge of $15,000 USD for each additional 1,000,000 posts.
This move signals X’s intent to tightly control its data assets and profit from unauthorized data collection by third parties. Given the value of user-generated content to AI developers, many of whom rely on vast datasets to improve their models, the introduction of this policy could serve as a deterrent to companies looking to bypass formal data-sharing agreements.
The liquidated damages clause further emphasizes X’s desire to keep its data monetization strategy under its control. By putting a high price tag on unauthorized scraping, X is effectively telling third parties that if they want access to its data, they’ll have to pay—either by scraping less or by entering into a formal agreement with the platform.
Data Retention Policies: What’s Changed?
Alongside the new AI-related clauses, X’s privacy policy has also undergone changes regarding data retention. Previously, the platform stated that it would keep personally identifiable data for no longer than 18 months. This time limit has now been replaced with a more fluid policy that allows X to store data for “different periods of time, depending on how long we need to retain it to provide you with our products and services.”
This new approach to data retention gives X greater flexibility in determining how long it keeps certain types of data. As an example, the policy notes that usage information, such as posts and interactions with others, may be kept for the duration of a user’s account or until the content is deleted. This change could mean that X holds on to data for longer than before, depending on various factors such as legal requirements and security reasons.
Another important addition to the policy is a reminder to users that content they post publicly may exist on other parts of the internet even after it is deleted from X. Search engines and other platforms may still retain copies of user posts, and those third parties are not bound by X’s privacy policies. For users concerned about the permanence of their online presence, this could be a sobering reminder of the challenges of controlling personal data in a digital world.
How to Opt Out of Data Sharing
While X is making significant changes to how user data is handled, the platform does offer users the option to opt out of certain types of data sharing. If you do not wish to have your data used by third-party collaborators or for AI training, you’ll need to follow specific steps in your settings.
Currently, users can navigate to the “Privacy and safety” section of their account settings and toggle off data-sharing with xAI’s Grok and other business partners. However, the opt-out process is expected to become more comprehensive when the updated policy takes effect on November 15. Users should regularly check their settings and adjust their preferences accordingly to ensure they are protected from unwanted data sharing.
Navigating the New Normal on X
As X continues to evolve under Elon Musk’s leadership, users must stay vigilant about the platform’s policies and how they affect personal data. The updated X privacy policy represents a clear shift toward the monetization of user data for AI training and other purposes. While this may be a logical step for X as it looks for new revenue streams, it’s essential for users to be aware of how their data is being used and to take advantage of opt-out mechanisms if they don’t agree with these practices.
For users who value privacy, now is the time to review X’s privacy settings and make informed decisions about data sharing. While X is not the only platform monetizing user data, it’s certainly at the forefront of the trend, and the implications for users’ digital footprints are significant. As AI continues to shape the future of technology, data will remain one of its most valuable assets, and platforms like X will undoubtedly be at the center of that transformation.
