Bluesky, the rising alternative to the widely-known social platform X (formerly Twitter), has made a significant announcement that sets it apart. It has committed to not using its users’ content to train its artificial intelligence models. This declaration came right on the heels of X’s latest updates to its terms and conditions, which have stirred quite a conversation.
In recent updates, X laid down new ground rules, one of which includes authorizing the sharing of customer data with third parties. These entities can then utilize the data for purposes such as targeted ads and AI model training. On top of this, X has introduced stringent measures against data miners—those who use automated tools to collect vast amounts of user data. Specifically, any account found viewing a million posts in a single day would face a hefty penalty of $15,000.
Contrastingly, Bluesky has assured its users that it has no plans to use their content for generative AI training. However, this does not fully shield user data from external crawlers, which can still gather information. Bluesky is proactive in its efforts to safeguard user consent, as shared by spokesperson Emily Liu. She stated that while robots.txt files may not always keep external companies from crawling websites, the team is earnestly working on ensuring these entities respect user data preferences.
Bluesky’s stance on user data and AI indicates its commitment to user privacy, which could be a compelling factor for those seeking an alternative to mainstream platforms. As more users become conscious of how their data is used, Bluesky’s approach might become an influential aspect in attracting a larger audience.
