X Stops Using European User Data for AI Training
Elon Musk has decided to halt the use of personal data from European users on the social media platform X for training his Grok chatbot. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), which oversees privacy regulations for X under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), announced this decision in a press release. The DPC expressed satisfaction with X’s agreement to suspend the processing of personal data collected from public posts of EU/EEA users between May 7, 2024, and August 1, 2024, for AI training purposes.
The DPC’s announcement followed an urgent application to the High Court, where concerns about the rights and freedoms of data subjects in the EU/EEA were emphasized. Earlier in the week, the DPC initiated court proceedings against X, seeking an injunction due to the lack of user consent for data processing. The DPC is also considering referring the matter to the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) for further examination.
DPC Commissioner Des Hogan highlighted the importance of ensuring compliance with GDPR and protecting the rights of data subjects. The DPC continues to collaborate with peer regulators across the EU/EEA to assess the legality of X’s data processing practices. Questions remain regarding the fate of unlawfully processed data and the legal implications for AI models trained on such data.
X has responded to the situation by expressing its commitment to user privacy and control over data usage. The company indicated that it is working closely with the DPC on Grok and other AI-related matters. The DPC has confirmed that the suspension of data processing was agreed upon in the Irish High Court, although further details regarding the legal assurance have not been disclosed.
