Elon Musk’s X Taken to Task Across 8 European Countries for Illegal Data Use
Privacy group Noyb accuses Elon Musk's X of illegally using user data for AI training, filing complaints across Europe. l Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- X is under fire for allegedly using user data without consent to train its AI model, Grok.
- A privacy advocacy group spearheads legal actions against X in multiple European countries.
- This is just the latest issue in the EU for Elon Musk’s platform.
Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, is again under fire, this time over allegations of illegally using user data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) without consent. A European privacy group has filed complaints across multiple countries, escalating the platform’s growing legal troubles in the EU.
As regulators crack down on data privacy, X faces a critical test of its compliance with strict European regulations.
Illegal Data Use Allegations For X
A Vienna-based privacy advocacy group has filed complaints in eight European countries against Elon Musk’s platform, X, accusing it of unlawfully using users’ personal data for its AI technology without their consent.
The European Center for Digital Rights , known as Noyb (“None of Your Business”), took this action following Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) court case against X earlier this month, which challenged its data collection practices for AI training.
Noyb claims that X has been “irreversibly feeding” the personal data of over 60 million European users into its Grok AI system without notifying them or obtaining consent. The organization criticized X for not proactively informing users about this practice. It also noted that many users only became aware of the situation after a viral post on July 26.
Last week, the DPC announced that X had agreed to pause the controversial processing of user data for AI purposes. However, Noyb’s founder, Max Schrems, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the DPC’s actions skirted around the core issue rather than addressing the legality of the data processing itself.
Noyb also raised concerns about the fate of the data already processed by X’s AI system. In response, the group has filed formal complaints in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, demanding a comprehensive investigation.
Urgency Procedure Request
The group has filed an “urgency procedure” against X, seeking swift action from data protection authorities across eight European countries.
The goal is to ensure that X complies with EU regulations, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which mandates that companies obtain user consent for data use.
“We want to ensure that Twitter (now X) fully complies with EU law, which – at a bare minimum – requires to ask users for consent,” Noyb founder, Max Schrems, said, referring to the bloc’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Noyb has a history of challenging tech giants on privacy issues, having recently pressured Meta to pause its AI initiatives. Its founding in 2018 coincided with the introduction of the GDPR. Since then, Noyb has repeatedly pushed for regulatory action through legal proceedings against major technology companies.
Musk’s Irish Troubles
Social media platforms’ use of user data for AI training is facing growing scrutiny in the EU, with the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) particularly focusing on X and Meta.
After ordering Meta to halt its AI training efforts in June, the DPC has taken legal action against X. It alleged that the platform, under Elon Musk’s leadership, refused to comply with requests to stop using EU user data to train models like Grok.
The DPC is pursuing a court order to prevent X from processing user data for AI training purposes. High Court Justice Leonie Reynold has granted the DPC permission to notify X of the injunction ahead of further court proceedings later this week.
However, X has stated its intention to contest the DPC’s claims. In a statement, X Global Affairs said , “The order that the Irish DPC has sought is unwarranted and overbroad and singles out X without any justification. This is deeply troubling.”
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