Elon Musk’s social media platform X is under scrutiny for using user data to train its AI chatbot Grok, raising privacy concerns and prompting regulatory investigation.
Points
- X faces scrutiny for using user data to train AI chatbot Grok.
- Irish Data Protection Commission （DPC） investigates.
- Users warned to turn off data sharing settings.
Elon Musk’s social media platform X is facing scrutiny by the Irish Data Protection Commission （DPC） following reports that changes in default settings allowed user data to be used in training Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok.
User Data and Privacy Concerns
The DPC has been engaging with X on this matter for several months, with the latest interaction occurring just a day before the reports surfaced. The DPC expressed surprise at the developments and is awaiting further response from X, expecting more engagement early next week.
Grok, developed by Musk’s xAI, is designed to be witty, informative, and engaging. However, the use of user data for its training has raised significant privacy concerns.
Turning Off Data Sharing
Several posts have warned X users about the change, advising them to turn off the default setting that allows their data to be used for training Grok. Encrypted email service ProtonMail provided instructions to its
304,500 X followers on how to turn off this setting:
“Your data on X is used by default to train Grok. Turn it off in Settings > Privacy and safety > Data sharing and personalization > Grok,” Proton explained in a July 26 X post.
Positive User Response to Grok’s Open-Source Move
Despite the controversy, Musk’s announcement that xAI would make Grok open source was met with positive responses from users. While Musk did not elaborate on the plans, the decision was praised by many, who highlighted the need for transparency in AI development.
One user commented, “OpenAI should do the same. If they are ‘open’ that is.” Musk responded, “OpenAI is a lie.”
Legal Actions Against OpenAI
Musk’s stance on open-source AI aligns with his ongoing legal battle against OpenAI. On February 29, Cointelegraph reported that Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming a breach of the agreement made when OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit organization. He argued that OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft goes against the founding principles to advance open-source artificial general intelligence for humanity’s benefit.
As X navigates these controversies, the platform must balance innovation with user privacy and regulatory compliance. The DPC’s investigation and user backlash highlight the importance of transparency and consent in using personal data for AI training.