In the latest developments surrounding X (formerly Twitter), significant changes have been announced regarding its terms of service, alongside an ongoing investigation by the European Union (EU). These changes, driven by owner Elon Musk, touch on AI training, content moderation, legal venues, and new restrictions that have sparked discussions globally. At the same time, competition is heating up, with alternatives like Bluesky gaining traction.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters:
New Terms of Service
X is set to update its terms of service on November 15, with notable changes, including the use of users’ posts to train AI models such as Grok, X’s chatbot. This has caused concern among privacy advocates and users, especially as it includes a policy to analyze all text and data provided by users for AI training purposes. While there was previously an option to opt out of AI scraping, it remains unclear whether this choice will persist after the changes
Additionally, the new terms introduce a hefty fine of $15,000 for users or bots that scrape or access more than 1 million posts in 24 hours. The policy seems targeted at competitors and large-scale scrapers, though it could impact academic research efforts. X has also relocated its headquarters from California to Texas, with all future legal disputes now mandated to be filed in Texas courts, raising questions about venue manipulation.
EU Probe
X is currently under investigation by the European Commission for potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The investigation focuses on X’s failure to curb illegal content, such as hate speech and terrorist propaganda. If found guilty, X could face fines of up to 6% of its global revenue. Musk could also be personally liable due to his role in the platform’s decision-making.
The Competition Heats Up
As X continues to face controversy, its competitor, Bluesky, is experiencing a surge in new users. Bluesky offers decentralized control and has positioned itself as an alternative to Musk’s leadership. With millions of new users joining Bluesky, particularly after Musk’s announcement that blocked posts would no longer remain hidden on X, it’s clear that discontent with X is driving users elsewhere
TF Summary: What’s Next?
The changes at X are a reflection of Musk’s continuing effort to reshape the platform, but they are not without backlash. The EU’s ongoing probe could have financial consequences, and X’s new terms could drive more users toward alternative platforms like Bluesky. With privacy, AI ethics, and competition in the spotlight, X’s future will depend on how it handles these growing challenges, particularly with an increasing number of users seeking alternatives.
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