European Users Complain as Twitter Uses Data for AI Without Consent
Published: August 12, 2024, 9:39 AM
European users have filed complaints against Twitter, alleging that the platform’s new owner, Elon Musk, has violated data privacy laws by using the personal data of up to 60 million users to train artificial intelligence (AI) without their consent.
The Australian NGO Noyb filed complaints in nine countries across the European Union on Monday, claiming that Musk’s platform violated data protection regulations by collecting and utilizing user data without proper authorization.
This comes after many users reported in July that their accounts were automatically configured to share data with a chatbot called “Grok,” raising concerns about data privacy practices.
Emergency Procedure
Noyb has demanded a thorough investigation and enforcement of data protection laws, arguing that the Irish Data Protection Commission’s initial action was insufficient.
The NGO criticized the lack of transparency from Twitter regarding its data collection practices and called for greater accountability and compliance with EU regulations.
These complaints echo similar concerns raised by regulators and privacy advocates regarding Facebook and Instagram, which have also been criticized for utilizing user data for AI development without proper consent.
The pressure from these complaints has led to major social media platforms temporarily halting their data-driven AI initiatives in Europe.