The Controversial Privacy Practices of X Corp: What You Need to Know
If you’ve been following Elon Musk’s ventures, you may have heard about the recent privacy policy update at X Corp, formerly known as Twitter. This update has generated some buzz and raised concerns among internet users. The company now plans to utilize publicly accessible information for artificial intelligence and machine learning training, as well as gather biometric, career, and educational data.
The change was first noticed by Alex Ivanovs of Stackdiary, sparking discussions about technology on various online platforms.
Musk himself addressed the update on X Corp’s website, clarifying that only publicly available information will be used, with no access to private data like emails. He emphasized that this aligns with the goals of his artificial intelligence firm, xAI.
X’s Confidentiality Issues and Ambitious Goals
This isn’t the first time Musk has expressed his intention to use public data for AI development. He has previously mentioned xAI’s use of “public tweets” and criticized other tech giants for employing similar methods.
These new developments lend weight to the speculation that X Corp provides a significant amount of data to xAI. On xAI’s webpage, it states its collaboration with X Corp, Tesla, and other companies to achieve its objectives.
With this new policy, X Corp may gather information about its employees’ employment histories and academic backgrounds, potentially for a LinkedIn competitor. Musk recently expressed his disdain for LinkedIn and suggested that an X Corp equivalent would be more appealing. This shift in focus on users’ occupations could be attributed to this change.
While there are concerns about X Corp selling user data, there is currently no evidence to support this claim. However, given the prevalent use of data on social media platforms, it is not entirely implausible.
X Corp’s revised policy provides a glimpse into how Musk’s expanding empire will utilize publicly collected user data. Whether it’s for groundbreaking AI algorithms or a LinkedIn-style job site, this new direction signifies a significant departure in X Corp’s interactions with its customers.
Hot Take: Balancing Innovation and Privacy
The utilization of publicly accessible information by X Corp for AI training raises important questions about privacy and data ethics. While Musk’s ambitions for technological advancements are commendable, it is crucial to ensure that user data is handled responsibly and with transparency. Striking a balance between innovation and privacy will be key for X Corp’s continued success and credibility.