Ireland's Data Regulator Investigates X Over Use of European User Data for AI Training

Ireland's Data Regulator Investigates X Over Use of European User Data for AI Training

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched an official investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, over the platform’s use of personal data from European users. The investigation focuses on how X processes publicly accessible posts to train Grok, an AI model developed by Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI. This inquiry is part of a growing trend of regulatory scrutiny over AI and data privacy. Image Credits:Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto / Getty Images Why Is the DPC Investigating X? The DPC is concerned about how X processes user data, particularly how it uses publicly accessible posts from European users to train its generative AI models like Grok. The issue stems from the fact that X allegedly opted in users to share their data for this purpose without clear consent. Under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies must have a valid legal basis for processing personal data. This has raised significant questions about X's compliance with GDPR. The Role of xAI an…