In-House Data Harvest: How Social Platforms' AI Ambitions Threaten User Rights
Jul 14, 2025
1 min read
AI needs data. Platforms have it. And now, they’re merging.
On March 29, 2025, it was reported that Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, had acquired the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in an all-stock deal worth $33 billion. The merger not only strengthens Musk’s growing tech empire but also gives xAI direct access to X’s vast troves of user data without the legal and contractual obstacles that typically apply between separate entities. This move signals a deeper structural shift in the AI race: tech companies are no longer just building models — they are acquiring the infrastructures and ecosystems that fuel them. This shift raises significant concerns about user rights and data protection.
