Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner has initiated an investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk, to assess whether the platform’s use of Canadians’ personal data for training artificial intelligence (AI) models complies with federal privacy laws. This action follows a complaint received by the commissioner’s office.
The investigation will examine X’s practices concerning the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information to train AI models. Specific details about the complaint have not been disclosed.
Brian Masse, a lawmaker from the opposition New Democratic Party, had recently urged the privacy commissioner to investigate X’s data practices. He emphasized the importance of transparency, especially when algorithms could potentially spread misinformation.
As of now, X has not responded to requests for comment regarding the investigation.
This probe occurs amid heightened tensions between Canada and the United States over issues such as trade, border security, and a digital services tax targeting U.S. tech firms.
Canada’s privacy laws mandate specific guidelines on consent, disclosure, retention, and safeguards regarding personal data usage. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for how personal data is utilized in AI training by social media platforms.
