Source URL: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/x-third-parties-user-data-1.7356152
Source: Hacker News
Title: X is the latest social media site letting 3rd parties use your data to train AI
Feedly Summary: Comments
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses a significant change in the data-sharing policy of Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), allowing the platform to share user data with third parties for artificial intelligence training purposes. Starting November 15, 2023, users will be automatically opted in to this policy unless they actively choose to opt out, prompting concerns regarding user privacy and data security.
Detailed Description:
– **Background Context**:
– X updated its privacy policy stating it will share user data (posts, likes, bookmarks, reposts) with third-party platforms.
– Data can be utilized by these third parties to train their artificial intelligence models.
– Users are opted in by default until they decide to opt out.
– **Market Dynamics**:
– The shift underscores an emerging trend where social media platforms leverage user data as a profitable commodity for AI training, reflecting a competitive landscape focused on AI supremacy.
– Other platforms, like Reddit and LinkedIn, have engaged in similar practices, indicating a broader industry move towards monetizing user data for AI advancements.
– **Privacy and Compliance Concerns**:
– The policy change raises significant privacy issues, especially as user consent is now a passive choice unless actively opted-out.
– Users may be unaware of the implications of their data being used for AI training, with limited ability to fully disengage from such data harvesting.
– The European Union’s investigation into X demonstrates regulatory scrutiny surrounding data collection and user privacy rights.
– **Challenges of Opting Out**:
– According to cybersecurity expert Ritesh Kotak, opting out does not guarantee the removal of previously provided data from AI models, raising questions about the effectiveness of privacy measures.
– Users are encouraged to be proactive in their settings to prevent their data from contributing to AI learning models.
– **Significance of the Shift**:
– The philosophy underlying platforms that free services yield monetization through personal data reinforces the adage: “If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.”
– The trend highlights the need for heightened awareness among users regarding their digital footprint and the implications of data sharing in the age of AI.
Overall, this new policy from X not only illustrates the evolving intersection of social media, AI, and user privacy but also urges security and compliance professionals to assess and prepare for greater scrutiny of data handling practices in their organizations.