Saying No to eBay's AI Training - A Step-by-Step Guide
By April's end, eBay plans to utilize your personal data for AI purposes. Learn how to voice your objection here. - Commencing in April, eBay will employ user data for artificial intelligence purposes.
Written by the one and only Thorny Tonic
In the digital age, we all know those "yadda yadda privacy policy updates" as background noise. But eBay's latest policy change might be worth more than just a casual glance. Here's why: they want to use your data to train their AI - and here's how you can object.
First, you received an email on March 20th, not even asking for a simple click. Instead, it assumes your consent. "Effective on April 21, 2025, we'll be using your data to train AI models," the email casually mentioned. But if you don't voice your objection, you've given your consent.
What Exactly eBay Wants with Your Data
eBay isn't shy about it. According to their updated privacy policy, they can use your personal data for AI training, not just their own, but also third-party AI systems[1]. Moreover, they might combine your data with information from various public and private sources, including public websites, credit bureaus, economic information providers, and information brokers. Sounds like eBay wants to assemble comprehensive profiles about you and feed them to the AI.
Putting a One-Way Stop to eBay's AI Use
If you're not cool with eBay using your data like this, you've got options:
- Click Here: Log in to your eBay account (if needed) and object to AI use.
- Not Account Connected: If you can't log in to your eBay account, contact eBay's data protection officer through this form[2].
Advocates recommend using the following wording for your objection:
"I object to my personal data being used for AI training purposes and the combination of personal data from public sources, including publicly available online information."
The Never-Ending Data Race
eBay isn't the only one with a data appetite. More and more companies are rushing to create AI assistants, hoping to get ahead in the game. They're using our data to improve user experience - and keep us hooked. But many companies are still vague about how they use our data, making it challenging for customers to make informed choices[3].
Sources: eBay, North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Protection Center
The enrichment data includes some insightful ways to protect your data and make informed choices. But hey, if you just want to put a stop to eBay's AI use - that's all you need!
EC countries, employment policy: As more companies race to create AI assistants, it's crucial for employment policies to ensure worker privacy and data protection, especially in light of eBay's data use.
eBay, privacy policy, bind: Under eBay's updated privacy policy, your data might be bind to various public and private sources and used for AI training, raising concerns about the combination of personal data.
Malte, meantime, employment policy: In the meantime, while companies race to create AI systems, Malte urges the European Commission to establish stringent employment policies that prioritize worker privacy and data protection.
