AI Training: Why X Will No Longer Use Your Data as a European User

Accused of misusing the personal data of its European users to train its AI, X, the platform founded by Elon Musk, has finally relented!

X, previously known as Twitter, has now committed to ceasing the use of personal data from its European users for AI training. Why the sudden change? It appears that eight European countries have filed formal complaints against Musk’s social media platform. This decision was made back in early August and was confirmed by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) on September 4th.

Why Did X Use Our Data for AI Training?

Did you know that from May 7 until August 1, 2024, X was leveraging the personal data of its European users? This was done solely to train its AI, Grok. According to a report from the Austrian organization Noyb, this « illegal » practice had led to complaints from eight different European nations. It’s no surprise!

Fortunately, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) took action on behalf of the European Union. A legal case was initiated against Musk’s platform, leading to X’s pledge to adhere to regulations.

A Lasting Commitment

The DPC, representing the interests of the European Union, announced the withdrawal of the lawsuit against X in the Irish High Court. This decision was reached after the platform agreed to comply with the terms set back in early August regarding Grok. Graham Doyle, the DPC’s communications head, told AFP that this commitment is now “permanent.”

With the withdrawal of the legal action against X, the platform will now be able to continue training Grok. However, this time, the team is required to approach this task differently.

Unresolved Questions

The DPC has sought the guidance of the European Data Protection Committee to clarify certain aspects of data usage in AI development. This request aims to establish clear guidelines for the future, ensuring compliance with standards. At this moment, no specific rules have been defined regarding the training of AI.

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