Twitch allows users to opt out of AI training data collection
Streaming platform confirms Amazon has been using user content for AI training by default, prompting backlash.
Quick Look
Twitch has introduced an opt-out setting allowing users to prevent Amazon from using their streams, chats, and clips to train generative AI models, following widespread backlash over default data collection.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Amazon acquired Twitch for nearly $1bn in 2014. Tech companies widely collect user content by default to train generative AI models.
Twitch users can now stop Amazon from taking their content to train its generative artificial intelligence (AI) models, the popular streaming platform said.
Twitch said audiences and creators can opt out of a default setting that allows Amazon to use streams, clips, images, chats and other channel content.
The announcement on Wednesday confirmed that the technology giant, which bought Twitch for nearly $1bn (£740m) in 2014, was using the platform's content for AI training, prompting widespread backlash from users.
Amazon runs a host of AI services and has heavily invested in its development as it seeks to compete with Google, Meta and other technology giants.
Amazon has been contacted for comment.
Twitch is a major livestreaming platform that is especially popular among gamers and young people. Its top content creators have tens of millions of followers.
AI training collection had been turned on by default just as it is on most content services, but Twitch is "respecting" users' wishes to opt out if they prefer, the firm's chief product officer Mike Minton said during a stream on the platform.
Asked why data is being collected by default, he said: "If it's opt-in, nobody would opt-in. That's the honest answer."
Users who remain opted in could have any of their channel content used for training, Minton said, adding that the data collected will not be re-sold to other companies.
During the same session, Mary Kish, head of community at Twitch, took viewers through a tutorial on how to disable generative AI training through a user's channel settings.
Data collection for AI training has become an industry standard, Kish said.
"We don't expect you to be happy or excited about this. I don't expect anyone to react to this favourably," she added.
The stream's chat column was flooded with hundreds of comments from users criticising the move.
One viewer wrote: "Nobody would opt in because nobody wants to feed AI with our creativity and content."
Another said Twitch had an "opportunity to set an industry standard" to push back against data collection for AI.
It is not clear when Amazon began collecting Twitch users' data to train its AI models.
Minton said during the stream that he did not know if users' data had already been scraped for training, adding that he was unsure what Amazon "has done in terms of model training and what they've used and not used."
Open Questions
- When did Amazon begin collecting Twitch users' data?
- What specific user data has already been used for training?
