If you’re on Twitter/X, you may have noticed a sudden stream of high-profile accounts heading for the exits. And no, it’s not (just) about the election.
This exodus is thanks to a new Terms of Service document, which takes effect on November 15. Although the company isn’t talking about it, the new ToS gives owner Elon Musk the right to use your tweets, photos and videos to train his AI bot, Grok.
The option to opt out of Grok training, something users currently have, may still exist in your settings the following day. But it also may not matter, legally speaking. Nothing about opting out is mentioned in the document you are required to sign. And it doesn’t appear to make a difference if your account is locked: So far as this ToS is concerned, Grok gets to feed on it anyway.
Oh yes, and following free speech is no longer free. You’ll be on the hook for $15,000 in …