Ireland Probes X Over Use of EU User Data for AI Training

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched an investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, over its use of personal data from EU users to train its generative AI model, Grok. As the lead regulator for X under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Irish DPC is examining whether publicly accessible posts from EU/EEA users were used without proper consent for AI training purposes.

This inquiry follows growing concerns about the ethical use of personal data in artificial intelligence development. The DPC clarified that the probe will assess whether X’s data practices align with GDPR standards. Under these regulations, the DPC can issue penalties of up to 4% of a company’s global revenue for violations.

The investigation is the latest clash between U.S. tech giants and EU regulators. X owner Elon Musk, a vocal critic of EU digital policies and close adviser to President Donald Trump, has previously opposed regulations coming from Brussels, particularly around content moderation and user data control. Trump’s administration has also criticized EU tech fines, labeling them as unfair taxation on American firms.

Last year, a similar dispute led to a temporary court case where the Irish regulator sought to prevent X from using EU user data for AI training without explicit consent. X eventually agreed to stop processing such data until users were given the option to opt out, leading the DPC to drop legal action. However, this new investigation suggests that regulators are still concerned about compliance.

Since gaining enforcement authority in 2018, the Irish DPC has fined major tech firms including Meta, TikTok, and LinkedIn, with Meta alone facing penalties nearing €3 billion. X has not been fined since a €450,000 penalty in 2020.