Starlink Is Using Your Personal Data to Train AI. Here’s How to Opt Out
Starlink Is Using Your Personal Data to Train AI. Here’s How to Opt Out
https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/starlink-updates-privacy-policy-for-ai-training/
Publish Date: 2026-02-05 19:21:00
Source Domain: www.cnet.com
- AI Data Harvesting: Starlink updated its privacy policy on January 15 to allow the use of user data for training artificial intelligence (AI) models, with customers opted in by default.
- Scope of Data Collection: The company collects a range of personal information, including contact information, performance metrics, billing details, and potentially communication information and inferences from other collected data.
- Opt Out Process: Customers can opt out of having their data used for AI training through their account portal, available on both the app and the website under Privacy Preferences.
- Potential Risks: Experts highlight risks such as AI prompt engineering, which might enable AI to reproduce the original data inputs, potentially exposing sensitive or personal information.
- VPN Recommendation: To protect against data use for AI training, using a trusted VPN is recommended, with the caveat that individual device connections may need to be set up.
- Industry Context: The policy changes reflect a broader trend in tech towards using extensive data for AI development, raising privacy concerns.
- Correlation to SpaceX’s xAI: The privacy policy modification occurred shortly before SpaceX announced its acquisition of xAI, another company founded by Elon Musk, emphasizing a possible future alignment in AI strategies.