Twitter/X, the social media platform led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, is set to implement significant changes to its privacy policy. These changes, which will take effect on November 15, 2023, will allow user data to be utilised to train AI models for third-party collaborators. This development marks a notable shift in the company's operations, potentially opening up a new revenue stream at a time when advertising income has seen a decline since Musk's acquisition of the platform.
The updated privacy policy indicates that, unless users opt out, their data may be shared with third parties who could use it for independent purposes, including training their own artificial intelligence models. This type of data licensing is comparable to the strategy employed by Reddit, where user information is sold to external entities. However, the mechanics of opting out remain unclear, leaving users uncertain about how to protect their data if they choose to do so.
In terms of legal recourse, Twitter/X has designated the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and state courts located in Tarrant County, Texas, as the exclusive venues for any complaints arising after the policy changes take effect. This choice is noteworthy due to the company's headquarters being situated in Bastrop, near Austin, Texas—some 218 miles away from Tarrant County. Additionally, the federal judges in this district were appointed by Republican presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, in contrast to the fewer Republican-appointed judges in the district of the company's headquarters. This decision is particularly interesting against the backdrop of Musk's significant financial support for Trump and the Republican party, contributing $75 million to Trump's America PAC.
Furthermore, in an effort to combat data scraping, Twitter/X has announced a penalty for excessive access to the platform. Users who view or access more than one million posts per day will incur a fine of $15,000 for each additional million posts accessed. This measure reflects the company's stance on protecting its data from being aggregated in bulk without consent.
As Twitter/X navigates these changes, the implications for users and the company's future revenue model remain to be seen. This pivot towards monetising user data for AI development underscores the growing significance of data in driving technological advancements and the business models surrounding them.
Source: Noah Wire Services