Brussels – Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has acquired X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, a move that has ignited significant concerns regarding the processing of personal data from its approximately 600 million users.

Sandro Ruotolo, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Democratic Party, emphasized that this acquisition could lead to the exploitation of user-generated content, such as tweets, photos, and personal information, to train xAI's artificial intelligence models without obtaining explicit consent or offering compensation to users.

Ruotolo expressed alarm over the implications of this merger, citing the potential for increased concentration of technological and informational power in Musk’s hands.

He argued that this could compromise the digital rights and privacy of millions of individuals, especially as the platform has been facing challenges with misinformation and the spread of fake news.

In this context, he warned that X may serve as a resource for manipulating information through AI frameworks, further exacerbating concerns about accuracy and reliability in information dissemination.

In response to these developments, Ruotolo has submitted a formal inquiry to the European Commission, urging for an immediate assessment of the legality of the acquisition.

He stressed the necessity for rigorous measures to ensure the protection of the rights of European citizens in the digital landscape, asserting that it is crucial to prevent the exploitation of personal data without established regulations and transparency.

Ruotolo’s initiative underscores a growing demand among EU lawmakers for stringent data protection regulations as technology companies continue to evolve and expand their influence over personal data.