Twitch sparks gamers’ wrath with Amazon AI sharing deal
Twitch will share users’ data with Amazon to better train the online retailer’s AI models.
Live-stream gaming titan Twitch has ignited controversy among its massive user base following its announcement that it will share user data with its parent company Amazon, for the purpose of enhancing Amazon's artificial intelligence (AI) models. In a social media post on X, Twitch disclosed that users would have the option to opt-out of this data-sharing, yet any live audio, text, images, and other content on their channels would be utilized by Amazon for AI training across all its platforms.
Twitch's decision adds a new dimension to the ongoing struggle for online privacy as AI entities increasingly seek data to refine their models.
Twitch's chief product officer, Mike Minton, defended the policy during a live chat on the popular gaming platform on August 12. He asserted that, "if it was opt-in, nobody would opt in," pointing out that "it's going to be on by default, and in almost every content service in the world, it is on by default." Despite the backlash from gamers, Minton acknowledged, "I know it's very upsetting to the community, but this is where we are."
The backlash against Twitch's policy has been swift and vehement. Users on X have lambasted the decision as an unethical intrusion into their privacy, with one user stating, "Opting people in by default is not consent." Another user suggested, "Pay us for our services then with this AI training." Twitch's move to share user data with Amazon is not an isolated incident in the race for AI model enhancement.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, took a similar step in 2025, stating that all public comments on its platforms, excluding WhatsApp, would be used to train its AI models unless users opted out.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
