X updates its privacy policy to allow third parties to use its data in training artificial intelligence models.

X is modifying its privacy policy to include a new section that allows sharing user data with external "partners" for the purpose of training artificial intelligence models. This new policy will take effect on November 15, 2024, and seems to facilitate agreements similar to those of Reddit, where external companies could pay for data licenses from X.

The updated policy incorporates a section titled "third-party partners." Depending on user settings and their decision to share data, X may disclose or share information with third parties. If the user does not choose to opt out of this system, the recipients of the information may use it for purposes other than those stated in X's privacy policy, such as training artificial intelligence models, whether generative or not.

Although the option to opt out is mentioned, it is not clear how users can take such action. According to reports, the policy refers to the user's settings menu, but there does not seem to be an explicit control to opt out of data sharing. Since the policy takes effect next month, there is still a possibility that this may change. So far, X has not responded to requests for comment on this matter.

If X were to start licensing its data to other companies, it could open a significant new source of revenue for the social network, which has seen a decline in interest from major advertisers.

In addition to the privacy policy, X is updating its terms of service, introducing harsher penalties for those caught "scraping" a large number of tweets. In a section titled "liquidated damages," the company specifies that anyone accessing more than one million posts in a day will be subject to a penalty of $15,000.

Protecting user data and system resources is a priority. X states that, to the extent permitted by law, users who violate the terms or facilitate others in doing so will be liable for liquidated damages for requesting, viewing, or accessing more than one million posts within a 24-hour period.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, has previously expressed his opposition to "scraping." Last year, the company temporarily blocked access to tweets for those not logged in, a measure Musk justified as an attempt to protect itself against scrapers. Additionally, a paywall was implemented for the X API, which has drastically limited researchers' ability to analyze what is happening on the platform. Musk has used allegations of "scraping" as a basis to sue organizations that sought to study topics such as hate speech on the platform.