Is Your X Account at Risk? Privacy Advocates Warn FTC of ‘Serious’ Threat

Privacy advocates have formally alerted the Federal Trade Commission that Elon Musk’s X poses a “serious risk to Americans’ privacy,” according to a report from Ars Technica. The complaint argues that recent changes to the platform’s data practices – including expanded data sharing, reduced transparency, and the use of user posts to train AI models – violate past FTC orders and put users at greater risk of surveillance, identity theft, and unwanted exposure.

If you use X, you may be affected even if you have not changed any settings. Here is what the advocates are saying, why it matters, and what you can do about it now.

What Happened

A coalition of privacy and consumer advocacy groups filed a complaint with the FTC, claiming that X (formerly Twitter) has systematically weakened privacy protections since Musk took over. The specific concerns, as reported, include:

  • Broader data sharing with third parties, including AI companies and advertisers, without clear user consent.
  • Removal or reduction of encryption for direct messages, making them less secure than before.
  • Use of public posts to train Grok, X’s AI chatbot, with users initially opted in by default – a reversal of Twitter’s previous policy of not using personal data for such purposes without explicit permission.
  • Changes to the privacy policy that give X more room to collect and share biometric, employment, and educational data.

The advocates argue these actions violate the terms of a 2022 FTC consent decree that required Twitter to maintain robust privacy and security programs. The FTC has received the complaint but has not announced any action yet.

Why It Matters for Everyday Users

The risks are not abstract. If X shares your data more broadly, that information can end up in the hands of data brokers, advertisers, or unknown third parties. Reduced encryption means your direct messages could be more easily intercepted or accessed internally. And if your public posts are used to train AI, you have little control over how that model represents your words or opinions.

For journalists, activists, or anyone who uses X for sensitive communication, these changes can be especially dangerous. But even casual users are affected: the platform has made it harder to understand what data is collected and who gets it.

What Readers Can Do to Protect Themselves

While the FTC weighs its options, you can take practical steps to limit your exposure on X today.

1. Review Your Privacy Settings

  • Go to Settings & Privacy > Privacy and Safety.
  • Disable data sharing with third parties wherever possible. Look for toggles labeled “Allow others to share your data” or “Personalization based on your activity.”
  • Turn off “Allow your posts to be used for AI training.” (X may have added this option after complaints; if not, consider making your account private.)
  • Check your direct message settings: ensure only people you follow can message you, and avoid sharing sensitive information in DMs unless you are certain they are end-to-end encrypted (X’s encryption is still rolling out and not enabled by default for all conversations).

2. Limit What You Share Publicly

Posts you make public are fodder for AI training and can be scraped by anyone. Consider:

  • Setting your account to protected (private) so only approved followers can see your posts. This prevents your content from being used for Grok training or sold to data brokers.
  • Removing old tweets that contain personal information. You can use third-party tools (with caution) or manually delete.

3. Audit Third-Party App Access

Many users have connected X to other services over the years. Revoke access to any apps you no longer use. Go to Settings > Security and account access > Apps and sessions and remove anything that looks unfamiliar or untrusted.

4. Consider Alternatives

If X’s direction does not align with your privacy needs, evaluate other platforms. Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads offer varying levels of control and data practices. None are perfect, but you can compare their privacy policies and choose the one that best fits your risk tolerance.

5. Stay Informed

The FTC may issue guidance or take enforcement action in the coming months. Keep an eye on consumer protection news from sources like Ars Technica, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or the FTC’s own blog. If you are particularly concerned, you can file a complaint with the FTC yourself at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Sources

  • Ars Technica: “Musk’s X poses ‘serious risk to Americans’ privacy,’ advocates warn FTC” (July 2, 2026)
  • Previous FTC consent decree with Twitter (2022)

This article reflects concerns raised by advocacy groups; the FTC has not yet ruled on the complaint. Users should weigh the reported risks against their own comfort level and take precautionary steps as outlined above.