Starlink Updates Privacy Policy for AI Training: What You Need to Know and How to Opt Out

If you're one of Starlink's 9 million customers worldwide, there's a privacy change you need to know about. SpaceX's satellite internet service quietly updated its privacy policy on January 15, 2026, to allow the use of customer data for AI training—and you're opted in by default.

This isn't just another routine privacy update. With SpaceX in talks to merge with Elon Musk's AI company xAI (developer of the Grok chatbot), your internet usage data could soon be feeding one of the most ambitious AI projects in the world. Here's everything you need to know about what changed, what data is being collected, and how to protect your privacy.

What Changed in Starlink's Privacy Policy?

The updated policy now includes language that allows Starlink to use your personal information "to train our machine learning or artificial intelligence models." Even more concerning, this data can also be shared with "third-party collaborators" for AI training purposes, "including for their own independent purposes."

According to archived versions reviewed by Reuters, the November 2024 privacy policy contained no mention of AI training whatsoever. This language appeared only after the January 15, 2026 update—just two weeks before SpaceX announced merger talks with xAI.

The key changes:

• Customer data can now be used for AI and machine learning model development
• Data may be shared with unnamed "third-party collaborators"
• All customers are automatically opted in by default
• No clear limits on what types of AI applications the data might support

What Data Does Starlink Collect?

As an internet service provider, Starlink collects a vast amount of information about its users. According to the company's Global Privacy Policy, this includes:

Account Information:

• Names and contact details
• Email addresses
• Physical addresses
• Payment and credit card information

Technical Data:

• IP addresses
• Device identifiers
• Network performance metrics
• Service usage patterns

Communication Information:

• Audio and visual data
• Information in shared files
• "Inferences we may make from other personal information we collect"

That last category is particularly vague and raises red flags for privacy advocates. What kinds of inferences? Based on what data? The policy doesn't specify.

What About Your Browsing History?

Here's where things get a bit confusing. Starlink has stated on a separate support page that "your internet history will never be shared with AI models, including individual browsing habits or geolocation tracking."

However, there's an important distinction to understand: While Starlink claims it won't share your specific browsing history, it can still see metadata about your internet usage. This includes:

• Which websites you visit
• When you visit them
• How frequently you access certain sites
• Your usage patterns and timing

Thanks to HTTPS encryption, Starlink can't see the actual content of your communications on most modern websites—your emails, messages, and page content remain private. But metadata alone can paint a surprisingly detailed picture of your daily life, potentially revealing everything from health conditions to political affiliations.

Privacy researchers have long warned that metadata can be just as revealing as the content itself, especially when fed into sophisticated AI systems designed to identify patterns.

Why This Matters: The SpaceX and xAI Connection

The timing of this privacy change is no coincidence. Just two weeks after the policy update, news broke that SpaceX is in talks to merge with xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company valued at $230 billion.

If this merger goes through, it would bring together:

• SpaceX's rockets and satellite network
• Starlink's 9 million internet customers
• xAI's Grok chatbot
• The X social media platform (also owned by Musk)

For xAI, access to Starlink's customer data represents an enormous opportunity. Training sophisticated AI models requires massive amounts of data, and internet usage patterns from millions of households and businesses worldwide would be incredibly valuable.

SpaceX is also preparing for what could be a blockbuster IPO later in 2026, with estimates suggesting the company could surpass a $1 trillion valuation. The ability to leverage customer data for AI development adds significant value to the business.

Privacy Concerns and Expert Warnings

Privacy advocates and consumer rights groups have raised serious concerns about Starlink's policy change. The move represents a significant expansion of how internet service providers can use customer data.

Anupam Chander, a technology law professor at Georgetown University, expressed concern about the update, noting that while there may be legitimate data uses, the policy lacks clear limits on what applications it will support.

The concerns fall into several categories:

1. Scope Creep
Once data enters AI training pipelines, controlling its use becomes nearly impossible. What starts as improving customer service could expand to advertising, surveillance, or applications customers never anticipated.

2. Third-Party Access
The policy mentions sharing with "third-party collaborators" but doesn't specify who these partners are, what safeguards protect the data, or what purposes they can use it for.

3. ISP-Level Data Collection
Unlike social media platforms where users voluntarily share content, an internet service provider sits at the network level, observing the full breadth of online activity. This gives ISPs access to far more comprehensive data than most other services.

4. Opt-In by Default
By making data sharing the default setting, Starlink places the burden entirely on customers to protect their own privacy. Many users won't even know they need to opt out.

5. Potential for Misuse
Even if Starlink and xAI use the data responsibly, there's always risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, or future policy changes that expand usage further.

How to Opt Out: Step-by-Step Instructions

The good news is that you can opt out of having your data used for AI training. The process is relatively straightforward, though you'll need to actively take these steps—Starlink won't do it for you.

Method 1: Using the Starlink Website (Recommended)

1. Go to starlink.com/account/settings and log in to your account
2. Navigate to your account settings or profile section
3. Click "Edit Profile" (usually in the top right corner)
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page until you find the privacy preferences
5. Uncheck the box next to "Share personal data with Starlink's trusted collaborators to train AI models"
6. Click "Save" to confirm your changes
7. Enter your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) code if prompted

You should see a confirmation message stating "Your data will not be used to train AI models" or "You do not allow your data to be used to train AI models."

Method 2: Using the Starlink Mobile App

The opt-out process through the app takes a few more steps:

1. Open the Starlink app on your smartphone
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner
3. Tap "Profile" from the menu
4. Tap "Account Overview" to open your account portal
5. Scroll down and tap "Settings"
6. Tap "Edit Profile" in the top-right corner
7. Scroll to the bottom to find privacy preferences
8. Uncheck the box for AI training data sharing
9. Save your changes and verify with MFA if required

Important Notes About Opting Out

• You must opt out for each account separately if you manage multiple Starlink subscriptions
• The opt-out process requires internet access and the ability to log in to your account
• You may need to have your MFA device (phone or email) available to complete the process
• There's no bulk opt-out option for families or businesses with multiple accounts
• You'll need to check periodically to ensure your preferences haven't changed with future policy updates

What Happens After You Opt Out?

Once you've successfully opted out:

• Your existing data that was already collected remains in Starlink's possession
• Future data collection for network operations and billing will continue (this is necessary for the service to work)
• Your data won't be specifically used for AI training purposes going forward
• Your data won't be shared with third-party collaborators for AI training
• Your internet service will continue exactly as before—opting out doesn't affect performance or features

It's important to understand that opting out doesn't delete previously collected data or prevent all data collection. It only prevents your data from being used specifically for AI training purposes.

Additional Privacy Protection Steps

If you're concerned about your privacy beyond just AI training, consider these additional measures:

1. Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and hides your browsing activity from your ISP. Even Starlink won't be able to see which websites you visit if you're using a reputable VPN.

Recommended VPN practices:

• Choose a no-logs VPN provider (one that doesn't keep records of your activity)
• Verify the VPN has strong encryption (look for AES-256)
• Consider providers based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions
• Read reviews and privacy audits before selecting a service

2. Use Privacy-Focused Browsers and Search Engines

• Switch to browsers like Firefox or Brave that prioritize privacy
• Use search engines like DuckDuckGo that don't track your searches
• Install privacy-focused browser extensions like uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger

3. Enable HTTPS Everywhere

Most modern websites use HTTPS by default, but ensure you have the "HTTPS Everywhere" browser extension or similar protection enabled to encrypt all connections when possible.

4. Review Other Service Privacy Policies

Starlink isn't the only company updating privacy policies for AI training. Check the policies of your other online services and opt out where possible:

• Social media platforms (Meta, X, LinkedIn)
• Cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox)
• Email providers
• Other internet and mobile service providers

5. Limit Data Sharing

• Only provide the minimum information required for services
• Use privacy-focused alternatives where available
• Regularly audit which apps and services have access to your data
• Delete accounts and data from services you no longer use

The Broader Context: Industry-Wide AI Data Grab

Starlink's privacy policy change is part of a much larger trend. As AI companies race to build more powerful models, they're seeking vast amounts of training data from every available source. Recent examples include:

Meta (Facebook/Instagram): Updated policies in 2024 to train AI on user posts and photos unless users explicitly opt out (process varies by region).

X (formerly Twitter): Modified terms in 2023 to allow AI training on user tweets and interactions.

Adobe: Faced backlash in 2024 over terms that seemed to grant the company rights to use customer content for AI training, later clarifying and adjusting language.

OpenAI: Has partnerships with numerous publishers and platforms to access content for training ChatGPT and other models.

Google: Uses data from Search, Gmail, YouTube, and other services to train AI, though with some user controls and privacy protections.

The pattern is clear: companies view user data as essential fuel for AI development, and they're updating their terms of service to secure access. The burden increasingly falls on users to understand these changes and opt out if they're uncomfortable.

What's at Stake: The Future of Data Privacy

The Starlink privacy policy update represents more than just one company's data practices. It's a test case for how much control internet service providers can claim over customer data in the AI era.

ISPs occupy a unique position in the digital ecosystem. Unlike social media platforms, which users can choose to avoid, internet access is increasingly essential for modern life. Many Starlink customers—particularly those in rural or underserved areas—have few or no alternative options for high-speed internet.

This creates a concerning power dynamic: if ISPs can use their position as essential infrastructure providers to extract data for AI training, it sets a precedent that other providers might follow. What happens when your mobile carrier, cable company, or fiber internet provider makes similar changes?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and other digital rights organizations have long warned about this possibility. William Budington, a technologist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, characterized the trend as "this whole rush to just throw everything into the data-driven machine-learning nexus, and then hoping something more good will come out of it, your private information be damned".

Regulatory and Legal Questions

Starlink's privacy update also raises questions about regulatory compliance and legal obligations:

California Privacy Law: The policy acknowledges that for California residents, data sharing for AI training may be considered "sharing" or "sale" under state law, though Starlink argues not in the conventional sense. California's CCPA and CPRA give residents specific rights to know about and opt out of data sales.

Federal Communications Law: ISPs in the United States are subject to certain privacy regulations, though these have been weakened in recent years. Questions remain about whether AI training falls under existing frameworks.

International Privacy Laws: For Starlink's millions of international customers, laws like Europe's GDPR and Brazil's LGPD may offer stronger protections, potentially requiring more explicit consent.

Future Legislation: As AI data practices become more aggressive, lawmakers are considering new regulations. The outcome could reshape what companies like Starlink can and cannot do with customer data.

What Starlink Says

In response to criticism and questions, Starlink has posted clarifications on its support pages. The company emphasizes:

• Internet browsing history will not be shared with AI models
• Individual browsing habits and geolocation tracking are excluded
• The company complies with laws prohibiting unauthorized surveillance
• Only data necessary for providing service is collected
• Reasonable safeguards protect information when used or shared
• AI tools are intended to improve customer experience

However, critics note that these reassurances still leave significant gray areas. The definition of "necessary" data, the identity of "trusted collaborators," and the specific safeguards in place remain vague.