Canada's Privacy Watchdog Investigates X's Use of Personal Data in AI Training
Curated by THEOUTPOST
On Fri, 28 Feb, 8:08 AM UTC
4 Sources
4 Sources
[1]
Canada's privacy watchdog opens investigation into X following complaint
TORONTO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Canada's privacy watchdog has opened an investigation into the social media platform X's compliance with federal privacy law after receiving a complaint. "The investigation will focus on the platform's compliance with federal privacy law with respect to its collection, use, and disclosure of Canadians' personal information to train artificial intelligence models," the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement on Thursday. The statement didn't provide any additional details about the nature of the complaint. Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Boards, Policy & Regulation
[2]
Canada's privacy watchdog opens investigation into X following complaint
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's privacy watchdog has opened an investigation into the social media platform X's compliance with federal privacy law after receiving a complaint. "The investigation will focus on the platform's compliance with federal privacy law with respect to its collection, use, and disclosure of Canadians' personal information to train artificial intelligence models," the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement on Thursday. The statement didn't provide any additional details about the nature of the complaint.
[3]
Canada privacy watchdog probing X's use of personal data in AI models' training
TORONTO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Canada's privacy watchdog has opened an investigation into X, the social media platform owned by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, on whether its use of Canadians' personal data to train artificial intelligence (AI) models broke privacy rules. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement on Thursday it launched the probe after receiving a complaint. "The investigation will focus on the platform's compliance with federal privacy law with respect to its collection, use, and disclosure of Canadians' personal information to train artificial intelligence models," the statement said. The office did not provide any additional details about the nature of the complaint. X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Musk, CEO of electric vehicles maker Tesla, is also the founder of artificial intelligence startup xAI. Following Musk's 2022 purchase of Twitter and its subsequent renaming as X, the social media platform made xAI's Grok chatbot available to its users. Grok is an AI assistant that helps users complete tasks, including answering questions, solving problems and brainstorming, X says on its website. Last week, xAI introduced Grok-3, the latest iteration of its chatbot, which is being rolled out immediately to Premium+ subscribers on X. Generative AI models such as Grok require lots of data to train and develop. Canada's privacy legislation set out rules for how private-sector organizations can collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of business, the privacy commissioner has said on its website. They include rules around consent, disclosure, retention and safeguards. (Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
[4]
Canada watchdog probing X's use of personal data in AI models' training
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement on Thursday that it launched the probe after receiving a complaint. The investigation into X comes at a time of increased tension between Canada and the United States over trade, border security and a digital services tax on U.S. technology firms.Canada's privacy watchdog has opened an investigation into X, the social media platform owned by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, on whether its use of Canadians' personal data to train artificial intelligence (AI) models broke privacy rules. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement on Thursday that it launched the probe after receiving a complaint. "The investigation will focus on the platform's compliance with federal privacy law with respect to its collection, use, and disclosure of Canadians' personal information to train artificial intelligence models," the statement said. The office did not provide any additional details about the nature of the complaint. An opposition New Democratic Party lawmaker, Brian Masse, said he had written to the privacy commissioner this week calling for an investigation into X. "I'm pleased to see the privacy commissioner agree to launch an investigation into X's use of Canadians' data," Masse said in a statement. "Transparency and sunlight are crucial at a time when algorithms could be manipulated to spread misinformation," he added. X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The investigation into X comes at a time of increased tension between Canada and the United States over trade, border security and a digital services tax on U.S. technology firms. President Donald Trump, who has tasked Musk with downsizing the U.S. government, vowed earlier on Thursday to follow through on proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods from March 4 because deadly drugs were still pouring into the U.S. from those countries. Musk, CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, is also the founder of artificial intelligence startup xAI. Following Musk's 2022 purchase of Twitter and its subsequent renaming as X, the social media platform made xAI's Grok chatbot available to its users. Grok is an AI assistant that helps users complete tasks, including answering questions, solving problems and brainstorming, X says on its website. Last week, xAI introduced Grok-3, the latest iteration of its chatbot, which is being rolled out immediately to Premium+ subscribers on X. Generative AI models such as Grok require lots of data to train and develop. Canada's privacy legislation set out rules for how private-sector organizations can collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of business, the privacy commissioner has said on its website. They include rules around consent, disclosure, retention and safeguards.
Share
Share
Copy Link
Canada's privacy commissioner launches an investigation into X (formerly Twitter) over concerns about the platform's use of Canadians' personal information to train AI models, potentially violating federal privacy laws.
Canada Launches Privacy Investigation into X's AI Practices
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has initiated an investigation into X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk. The probe comes in response to a complaint regarding the platform's use of Canadians' personal information in training artificial intelligence (AI) models 1.
Focus of the Investigation
The investigation will center on X's compliance with federal privacy law, specifically examining how the platform collects, uses, and discloses Canadians' personal information for AI model training purposes 2. This scrutiny comes at a time when the use of personal data in AI development is under increasing global attention.
X's AI Initiatives
Following Musk's acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and its rebranding as X, the platform has integrated AI capabilities, including the Grok chatbot developed by Musk's AI startup xAI 3. Grok, an AI assistant designed to help users with various tasks, was recently updated to Grok-3 and made available to Premium+ subscribers on X.
Privacy Concerns and Regulations
Canada's privacy legislation outlines strict rules for how private-sector organizations can handle personal information in their business operations. These regulations cover aspects such as consent, disclosure, retention, and safeguards 3. The investigation will assess whether X's practices align with these requirements.
Political Context
The probe occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Canada and the United States over various issues, including trade and a proposed digital services tax on U.S. technology firms 4. This investigation may further complicate the relationship between the two countries in the tech sector.
Broader Implications
This investigation highlights the growing concern over the use of personal data in AI development. As generative AI models like Grok require vast amounts of data for training, questions about data privacy and consent are becoming increasingly pertinent. The outcome of this probe could have significant implications for how social media platforms and AI companies operate in Canada and potentially influence similar investigations in other jurisdictions.
Reference
[2]
[4]
Elon Musk's X Faces Multiple Privacy Complaints in Europe Over Data Use and AI Training
Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is facing nine privacy complaints across Europe. The complaints allege unauthorized use of personal data for AI training and violations of user consent and data access rights.
9 Sources
9 Sources
X Faces Potential EU Sanctions Over Grok AI Training Despite Irish Court Case Dismissal
Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) could still face sanctions in Europe for using EU users' data to train its AI chatbot Grok, despite a recent Irish court case being dropped after X agreed to cease the practice.
2 Sources
2 Sources
X Halts Use of European Users' Data for AI Training Amid Legal Concerns
X, formerly known as Twitter, has suspended the use of European users' personal data for training its AI models. This decision comes in response to legal challenges and concerns over GDPR compliance.
5 Sources
5 Sources
X Pledges to Stop Using EU Users' Data for AI Training
X, formerly Twitter, announces it will cease using personal data from European Union users to train its artificial intelligence systems, in response to regulatory pressure and privacy concerns.
3 Sources
3 Sources
X (Formerly Twitter) to Allow Third-Party AI Training on User Data, Raising Privacy Concerns
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has updated its privacy policy to allow third-party collaborators to use user data for AI training purposes, sparking debates about user privacy and data rights.
8 Sources
8 Sources
Your one-stop AI hub
The Outpost is a comprehensive collection of curated artificial intelligence software tools that cater to the needs of small business owners, bloggers, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, marketers, writers, and researchers.
The Outpost
Keep in touch
© 2025 TheOutpost.AI All rights reserved