The Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) has concluded its preliminary investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, regarding the use of users’ public posts to train its artificial intelligence model, Grok.

The probe began in mid-2024 after reports surfaced that Twitter International Unlimited Company (TIUC), which operates X, was using user-generated data to develop AI systems, including generative models. The FDPIC launched an informal investigation to assess whether the practice aligned with Swiss data protection law and to verify the availability and clarity of user opt-out options.

According to the FDPIC, TIUC cooperated with the inquiry by naming a representative in Switzerland and disclosing details about how user data was processed for AI training. Notably, the company highlighted that since July 16, 2024, users have been able to opt out of having their public posts used to train Grok. This option is available through X’s data protection settings and is also accessible to users in the European Union.

The FDPIC determined that the opt-out mechanism satisfies the requirements of Switzerland’s revised Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), which came into force in September 2023. As a result, the commissioner concluded that no further action was necessary at this stage.

In its statement, the FDPIC emphasized that responsibility for data protection is shared. While TIUC must offer users transparency and control, individual users are also accountable for managing their privacy settings and deciding whether to permit their content to be used in AI development.

The conclusion of the inquiry brings clarity to one of the many regulatory concerns surrounding AI training practices and reinforces the need for transparent user consent in the era of data-driven technologies.

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