AP advises Twitch users: opt out from sharing data with Amazon AI

Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens · 2026-08-20 · NL · verified record

Ecosystems: EU GDPR

AP advises Twitch users: opt out from sharing data with Amazon AI The streaming platform Twitch announced that Amazon is using Twitch users’ personal data to train AI models. Users who do not want Amazon to use their streams, images and other personal data can now opt out from this feature. The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), the Dutch data protection authority, is urging people to do so. Twitch is an online video streaming platform and a subsidiary of Amazon. People mainly use it to live-stream the video games they are playing, whilst being on camera themselves as well. Other people can watch and chat with each other. The AP is concerned about Amazon using user data to train AI models. What data are involved? Live streams on Twitch show the gamer’s face, voice and name, and often include images of a private space, such as a bedroom. This constitutes personal data. In the case of facial images, this even involves sensitive personal data. Once these data are stored in Amazon’s AI systems, they cannot simply be removed. As a result, users lose control over their data. Users’ chats and text messages also serve as training material for Amazon. How to turn it off The ‘Training for Generative AI’ setting is enabled by default. This means that Amazon automatically uses data from all Twitch users to train its AI, unless users disable the setting. To do this, go to: Settings, the Security and Privacy tab, under the ‘Training for Generative AI’ option. “Very risky” Monique Verdier, Deputy Chair of the AP: “Sharing data such as your face and voice to train Amazon’s AI models is very risky. You won’t be able to delete this. AI models could, for example, disclose your data to online scammers, who would then misuse them. In a statement made by Twitch it says that this setting is enabled by default, because otherwise nobody would give their consent. That says enough.…