A recent modification to the privacy practices of X Corp, formerly known as Twitter and led by Elon Musk, has sparked controversy. The company has decided to utilize publicly accessible data for the purpose of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning training, specifically gathering biometric, career, and educational information.
The change was initially noticed by Alex Ivanovs of Stackdiary, leading to discussions about technology on various online forums. Musk himself confirmed the update on X Corp’s website, clarifying that only publicly available information would be used and that no private data, including emails, would be accessed. This aligns with Musk’s AI goals, which he has been pursuing through his own firm called xAI.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Musk has expressed intentions to utilize public data for AI development. He has previously mentioned the use of “public tweets” by xAI and criticized other tech giants, including Microsoft, for employing similar methods.
This recent policy change further supports the speculation that X Corp provides a substantial amount of data for xAI. On the xAI webpage, it is stated that they will collaborate closely with X Corp, Tesla, and other companies to achieve their objectives.
Consequently, with this new policy in place, X Corp may collect information about its employees’ work histories and educational backgrounds, potentially for a project aimed at creating a competitor to LinkedIn. Musk recently expressed his dissatisfaction with LinkedIn, referring to it as “cringe” and suggesting that an equivalent platform developed by X Corp would be “cool.” The increased focus on users’ occupations may be a result of this sentiment.
Concerns have been raised regarding the possibility of X Corp selling user data due to advertising revenue challenges faced by the company. While there is no evidence to support this claim, it cannot be entirely ruled out given the common utilization of data on social media platforms.
X Corp’s revised privacy policy provides a glimpse into how Musk’s expanding empire intends to utilize publicly collected user data. Whether it is for groundbreaking AI algorithms or the development of a LinkedIn-style job platform, this new direction signifies a significant departure in how X Corp interacts with its user base.
