The social media giant X (formerly Twitter) quietly started using users’ posts to train Grok AI. Although the platform once defended user privacy, this sneaky move drew negative attention toward X, prompting regulators to intervene.
X now uses your message data for Grok AI
Recently, X quietly enabled the Grok AI training settings in users’ accounts. This setting allowed X to use users’ data from their messages to train their Grok AI model.
Considering the recent war of AI models and the tech giants’ race to win the AI empire, Grok AI seems like just another player. However, the way X rolled out this model and the sneaky behavior of using X users’ data for Grok training without users’ consent raises questions.
The issue first attracted attention when an X user highlighted this pre-enabled setting on social media. Considering that the EU’s GDPR prohibits tech services from rolling out pre-enabled features or settings, this move seemed like a clear violation of existing user privacy laws.
As reported by The guardThe UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has urged AI platforms to be “transparent” about their activities and ensure user consent.
Platforms that want to use their users’ data to train their base AI models must be transparent about their activities… They must take steps to proactively notify users before using data for these purposes, and give people sufficient time and simple provide processes to object to their data being used in this way.
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) also expressed its “surprise” at the issue.
The DPC has been in discussions with That is why we are surprised by today’s developments. We contacted X today and are waiting for a response. We expect further involvement early next week.
Grok AI training setting enabled by default (know how to disable it)
As data protection regulators deal with X’s recent move, users may need to take manual steps to protect their privacy from Grok’s grasp. Fortunately, the Grok AI training settings are clearly accessible to users, allowing them to opt out.
To disable this setting, users must go to the privacy settings of their X accounts. Then under the “Share and personalize data‘ option, users can change the setting ‘Allow your messages and your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and tuningChecked by default. If you disable this option and save the settings, you will be unsubscribed from messages from users of the Grok training activity.
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