Updates to GitHub Copilot interaction data usage policy

djmashko2

> Content from your issues, discussions, or private repositories at rest. We use the phrase “at rest” deliberately because Copilot does process code from private repositories when you are actively using Copilot. This interaction data is required to run the service and could be used for model training unless you opt out. Sounds like it's even likely to train on content from private repositories. This feels like a bit of an overstep to me.

mt42or

Is it legal ? Surely not in any EU countries.

section_me

If I'm paying, which I am, I want to have to opt-in, not opt-out, Mario Rodriguez / @mariorod needs to give his head a wobble. What on earth are they thinking...

sph

Thanks to Github and the AI apocalypse, all my software is now stored on a private git repository on my server. Why would I even spend time choosing a copyleft license if any bot will use my code as training data to be used in commercial applications? I'm not planning on creating any more opensource code, and what projects of mine still have users will be left on GH for posterity. If you're still serious about opensource, time to move to Codeberg.

Deukhoofd

So basically they want to retain everyone's full codebases? > The data used in this program may be shared with GitHub affiliates, which are companies in our corporate family including Microsoft So every Microsoft owned company will have access to all data Copilot wants to store?

mentalgear

> On April 24 we'll start using GitHub Copilot interaction data for AI model training unless you opt out. Review this update and manage your preferences in your GitHub account settings. Now "Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training" is enabled by default. Turn it off here: https://github.com/settings/copilot/features Do they have this set on business accounts also by default? If so, this is really shady.

indigodaddy

Checked and mine was already on disabled. Don't remember if I previously toggled it or not..

TZubiri

Two issues with this: 1- Vulnerabilities, Secrets can be leaked to other users. 2- Intellectual Property, can also be leaked to other users. Most smart clients won't opt-out, they will just cut usage entirely.

rvz

> From April 24 onward, interaction data—specifically inputs, outputs, code snippets, and associated context—from Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ users will be used to train and improve our AI models unless they opt out. Now is the time to run off of GitHub and consider Codeberg or self hosting like I said before. [0] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22867803

diath

> This approach aligns with established industry practices "others are doing it too so it's ok"

stefankuehnel

If you scroll down to "Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training" in GitHub settings, you can enable or disable it. However, what really gets me is how they pitch it like it’s some kind of user-facing feature: Enabled = You will have access to the feature Disabled = You won't have access to the feature As if handing over your data for free is a perk. Kinda hilarious.

TZubiri

If this doesn't sound bad enough, it's possible that Copilot is already enabled. As we know this kind of features are pushed to users instead of being asked for. Maybe it's already active in our accounts and we don't realize it, so our code will be used to train the AI. Now we can't be sure if this will happen or not, but a company like GitHub should be staying miles away from this kind of policy. I personally wouldn't use GitHub for private corporate repositories. Only as a public web interface for public repos.

hmate9

For what it's worth they're not trying to hide this change at all and are very upfront about it and made it quite simple to opt out.

hoten

Why is there no cancel copilot subscription option here?. Docs say there should be... Mobile https://github.com/settings/billing/licensing EDIT: https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/manage-your-accou... > If you have been granted a free access to Copilot as a verified student, teacher, or maintainer of a popular open source project, you won’t be able to cancel your plan. Oh. jeez.

pizzafeelsright

I am not certain this is that big of a deal outside of "making AI better". At this point, is there any magic in software development? If you have super-secret-content is a third party the best location?

OtherShrezzing

It’s not clear to me how GitHub would enforce the “we don’t use enterprise repos” stuff alongside “we will use free tier copilot for training”. A user can be a contributor to a private repository, but not have that repository owner organisation’s license to use copilot. They can still use their personal free tier copilot on that repository. How can enterprises be confident that their IP isn’t being absorbed into the GH models in that scenario?

OtherShrezzing

So, how does this work with source-available code, that’s still licensed as proprietary - or released under a license which requires attribution? If someone takes that code and pokes around on it with a free tier copilot account, GitHub will just absorb it into their model - even if it’s explicitly against that code’s license to do so?

semiinfinitely

ill be moving off github now

thesmart

I'm ready to abandon Github. Enschitification of the world's source infrastructure is just a matter of time.