SpaceX has revised the privacy policy for its Starlink satellite internet service to permit the use of customer data for training artificial intelligence models. The change, which took effect on January 15, 2026, marks a significant shift in how the company handles subscriber information and has sparked concerns among privacy advocates.
The updated Global Privacy Policy states that customer data may be used “to train our machine learning or artificial intelligence models” unless users actively choose to opt out. The policy also indicates that information could be shared with the company’s service providers and third-party collaborators. An earlier version of the policy from November 2025 did not contain any language about AI training.
What Data Starlink Collects
Starlink gathers extensive user information according to its privacy policy. This includes location data, credit card details, contact information, and user IP addresses. The company also collects what it terms “communication data,” which encompasses audio and visual content, information from shared files, and inferences drawn from other personal information collected from users.
The policy does not specify exactly which types of data would be used for AI training purposes. However, following questions about the change, Starlink posted an update to its help pages on January 31, 2026, clarifying that individual web browsing records and destination internet addresses would not be included in AI training materials. Instead, the training would mainly involve technical performance data and account-level details to improve customer service functions.
Privacy Experts Express Concern
The revision has drawn criticism from privacy advocates and consumer rights organizations, who argue that using personal data for AI training could expand surveillance capabilities and create opportunities for misuse.
Anupam Chander, a professor of technology law at Georgetown University, expressed reservations about the policy change. He noted that while there may be legitimate applications for the data, the policy lacks clear boundaries regarding how the information will ultimately be used.
How to Opt Out
Starlink has established a process for subscribers who wish to prevent their data from being used for AI training. Customers must log into the Starlink website, navigate to the Settings section, click Edit Profile, and uncheck a box labeled “Share personal data with Starlink’s trusted collaborators to train AI models.” The opt-out process currently requires web access and multi-factor authentication, as the option has not yet been added to the mobile application.
Broader Context and Business Implications
The privacy policy update comes as SpaceX prepares for a significant initial public offering planned for later this year. The company, already recognized as the world’s most valuable private enterprise, could see its valuation surpass $1 trillion following the IPO.
The change also aligns with Elon Musk’s broader artificial intelligence ambitions. SpaceX is reportedly in discussions to merge with xAI, Musk’s AI company recently valued at $230 billion following a funding round. The potential merger could accelerate the deployment of AI-driven services by SpaceX while providing xAI with extensive new data sets for training its models. xAI is currently developing Grok, a large language model chatbot, and also owns X, the social media platform.
Starlink currently operates a network of more than 9,000 satellites and provides internet service to over 9 million users worldwide. Despite requests for comment, SpaceX has not publicly responded to inquiries about the privacy policy revision.
