Janice R. Andrews
X (formerly Twitter) plans to allow AI companies to use its data for model training starting November 15, 2024. This privacy policy update introduces a “third-party collaborators” section, potentially creating new revenue streams under Elon Musk’s leadership.
While users will have an opt-out option, the mechanism isn’t yet visible in the platform’s settings. This move follows similar initiatives by other social platforms like Reddit, which have begun licensing their data for AI development.
Alongside this change, X is cracking down on data scraping with hefty penalties. Users or organizations accessing over one million posts daily will face a $15,000 fine. This follows earlier anti-scraping measures, including API restrictions and temporary access limitations for logged-out users.
The dual approach reflects X’s strategy to monetize its data while maintaining control over access. However, questions remain about user privacy protections and the transparency of data-sharing controls as X positions itself in the growing AI data marketplace.
These changes mark a significant shift in how X manages and monetizes its user data, though privacy advocates may raise concerns about user control and data protection.
