X's Exciting Privacy Policy Changes: What You Need to Know!

Twitter, or should we say “X,” has rolled out a fresh privacy policy, and let’s be honest, it’s not the most thrilling read. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, and the changes aren’t exactly a boon for your privacy.

Picture this: Twitter, now known as X, is on a transformational journey thanks to its new owner, the one and only Elon Musk. He’s turning it into the “everything app.” So, from the days of “yelling at the world in short messages,” X is evolving into an app that covers chatting, blogging, video sharing, making calls, personal finance, and pretty much everything else under the digital sun.

Now, given Musk’s penchant for shaking things up, it’s vital to grasp how this shift impacts your privacy. Here’s the scoop on the new Privacy Policy vs. the old one:

The old privacy policy, referred to as the “Current Privacy Policy,” remains in effect until September 29, 2023.

The fresh privacy policy, labeled the “X Privacy Policy,” takes effect on that same date.

Props to X for having both documents online, but comparing them side by side or using an automated tool can be a bit of a hassle, especially since you can only download the old policy in PDF format.

So, what’s cooking in the new policy?

First off, “Twitter” has become “X,” and “tweets” are now “posts.” The era of “Periscope” is long gone, so all references to Twitter’s streaming video feature have been nixed.

There’s some intriguing stuff and a few eyebrow-raisers, but deciphering it all isn’t a walk in the park. For instance, there’s a new sentence under “Sharing Information” suggesting that X might share your data with “applicant tracking system providers” to facilitate job hunting, likely tied to X’s forthcoming job listings platform.

Also, watch out for a paragraph stating that the X Privacy Policy is in English, and in case of discrepancies in translations, the English version rules.

Another noteworthy tidbit appears under “Objecting to, Restricting, or Withdrawing your Consent.” It hints that managing privacy settings at https://twitter.com/settings/account may not cut it for all of X’s features, so you might need to dig deeper.

Now, the juicy bits:

Under “Usage Information,” X might collect metadata related to encrypted messages. Ideally, less is more when it comes to metadata, so X should clarify what they’re storing.

Here’s the kicker: X can use the data it collects for various purposes, but the specifics are a bit fuzzy. It could be shared with partners, service providers, and advertisers. This was an issue in the old policy too, and the new part about encrypted message metadata doesn’t offer much clarity.

Oh, and there’s a new sentence that suggests your data could fuel X’s machine learning and AI models.

The most eyebrow-raising part? X might collect your biometric info for safety and security, but it’s supposed to be based on your consent, so you can opt out (phew!).

Lastly, X may collect and use your personal info, including work and education history, to recommend jobs, assist employers, and show you more targeted ads.

In a nutshell, compared to the old privacy policy, X now gathers a bunch of new user data, like your job and education history, and even biometrics. They’re planning to use this data in fresh ways, including for AI training. So, before you hand over your info to X, keep this in mind!