Musk's X under pressure from regulators over data harvesting for Grok AI

Elon Musk's social media platform, X, is facing scrutiny from data regulators in the UK and Ireland over its practice of using a default setting that allows the company to harvest user posts for training its Grok AI chatbot. Users were reportedly unaware that their consent was being obtained through pre-ticked boxes, which is against UK and EU GDPR regulations. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the UK has initiated inquiries, emphasizing that platforms must be transparent about data usage and provide users with clear options to object. The Data Protection Commission (DPC) in Ireland expressed surprise at the default setting, noting ongoing discussions with X regarding data collection practices. The DPC is awaiting a response from the company after recent communications. The controversy highlights broader concerns about data privacy and consent in the development of AI technologies, as large language models like Grok require extensive data to function effectively. This situation follows similar challenges faced by other tech companies, such as Meta, which recently decided against releasing an advanced AI model in the EU due to regulatory uncertainties. The ICO has stated that companies must proactively inform users about data usage for AI training and ensure that consent mechanisms comply with legal standards. X has not yet commented on the matter.