Image Credit: x.com
Recently, X users discovered a new option in the platform's privacy settings, allowing them to opt-out of having their data used to train an AI called Grok. This revelation caused an uproar as many realized their posts and interactions might have been used for AI training without their knowledge or consent.
X has not provided many details. In a short tweet, the platform's safety account confirmed that "All X users have the ability to control whether their public posts can be used to train Grok." However, it did not specify when this option was introduced or when the data collection actually started.
On the web version of X, the privacy page states that "your X posts, as well as your user interactions, inputs, and results with Grok," may be used for "training and fine-tuning purposes" by both X and its AI service provider, xAI.
Interestingly, X's privacy policy has allowed for this type of data usage since at least September 2023, according to the fine print.
Regulators are also concerned about X's actions. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is "making enquiries" with X, as reported by The Guardian. The Data Protection Commission (DPC) in Ireland, X's lead EU regulator, said it was "surprised" by the default setting since it was already discussing X's data practices for AI like Grok.
Under GDPR rules, companies cannot use pre-selected default settings to assume consent for potentially invasive data processing.
AI chatbots like Grok need massive amounts of data to generate human-like responses. They use everything from books to websites to social media posts. This practice can sometimes step into copyright gray areas. For instance, back in April, a report showed how OpenAI transcribed over a million hours of YouTube videos to train its language models. Google did the same for its Gemini models.
If you're concerned about your privacy and want to opt out of this data training, here's how you can do it through the platform's settings (note that this can't be done on the mobile app yet):
Click "More" in the navigation panel and select "Settings and privacy":
- Open the X website and log in to your account.
- On the left side of the screen, you will see a navigation panel.
- Click on the "More" option to reveal additional settings.
- Select "Settings and privacy" from the dropdown menu.
Click "Privacy and safety":
- Once you're in the "Settings and privacy" section, look for the "Privacy and safety" option.
- Click on it to access your privacy settings.
Scroll down to the "Data sharing and personalization" section and select "Grok":
- In the "Privacy and safety" section, scroll down until you find the "Data sharing and personalization" section.
- Click on the "Grok" option within this section.
Uncheck the box "Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning":
- You will see a checkbox next to the statement "Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning."
- Uncheck this box to opt out of having your data used for AI training.
Alternatively, you can quickly access the Grok settings page directly. For now, mobile app users cannot opt out, but X says this setting will be added soon.
By following these steps, you can take control of your data and ensure it is not used for AI training without your consent.