X is updating its privacy policy with new language that allows it to provide users’ data to third-party “collaborators” to train AI models. The Set to take effect on November 15, 2024, it appears to open the door to Reddit-like arrangements where outside companies can charge X to license information.
The updated policy shared by X includes a new section called “third-party collaborators.”
Depending on your settings or if you decide to share your information, we may share or disclose your information with third parties. If you do not opt out, in some cases the recipients of the information may use it for their own independent purposes in addition to those set forth in X’s Privacy Policy, including, for example, to train their own artificial intelligence models generatively or otherwise.
Although the policy mentions the option to opt out, it is not clear how users will do so. as TechCrunch the policy points users to the settings menu, but there is no control to opt out of data sharing. The policy doesn’t go into effect until next month, so there’s still a chance it could change. X did not respond to a request for comment.
If X were to start licensing its data to other companies, it could open up a significant new revenue stream for the social media company. from major advertisers.
In addition to its privacy policy, X also updates itself with tougher penalties for entities that “scratch” large numbers of tweets. In a section called “liquidated damages,” the company says anyone who views or accesses more than one million posts per day will be fined $15,000.
Protecting our users’ data and system resources is important to us. You further agree that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, you will be jointly and severally liable to us, in addition to all other legal remedies available to us, if you violate the Terms or induce or enable others to do so. Liquidated damages as follows for requesting, viewing or accessing more than 1,000,000 posts (including replies, video posts, photo posts and any other posts) in any 24 hour period – $15,000 per 1,000,000 posts dollar.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, has spoken out against “scraping” before. Last year, the company temporarily blocked people from viewing tweets when Musk signed out of the account to protect against scrapers. It also left behind X’s API this severely hampered the ability of researchers to study what was happening on the platform. He also used claims of “scratching” to exonerate him against organizations that attempt to study hate speech and other issues on the platform.
