Updates to GitHub Copilot interaction data usage policy

Posted by prefork 8 hours ago

Updates to GitHub Copilot interaction data usage policy(github.blog)

232 points | 111 commentspage 3

pizzafeelsright 7 hours ago|

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?

danelski 4 hours ago||

They've had ample access to the final output - our code, but they still hope with enough data on HOW we work they can close the agentic gap and finally get those stinky, lazy humans that demand salary out of the loop.

thesmart 7 hours ago||

How about "no." You may be okay giving away your individual rights, including to copyright, but I am not.

OtherShrezzing 7 hours ago||

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?

danelski 4 hours ago|

Most of the new culture and website contents is under full copyright. How much of an obstacle was that to these companies?

liquid_thyme 7 hours ago||

They use data from the poor student tier, but arguably, large corporates and businesses hiring talented devs are going to create higher quality training data. Just looking at it logically, not that I like any of this...

cebert 6 hours ago||

I wish GitHub would focus on making their service reliable instead of Copilot and opting folks into their data being stolen for training.

thesmart 7 hours ago||

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

TZubiri 8 hours ago||

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.

matltc 7 hours ago|

That's me. Frankly, looking at just uninstalling VSCode because Copilot straight-up gets in the way of so much, and they stopped even bothering with features that are not related to it (with one exception of native browser in v112, which, admittedly, is great)

nine_k 6 hours ago||

VSCode can be cleaned: https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium

(I prefer Emacs anyway, but VSCode is a worthy tool.)

indigodaddy 8 hours ago||

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

martinwoodward 8 hours ago|

If you previously opted out of the setting allowing GitHub to collect data for product improvements, your preference has been retained here. We figured if you didn't want that then you definitely wouldn't want this..

latand6 6 hours ago||

Why won't people like to make the models better? Aren't we all getting the benefit after all?

danelski 4 hours ago|

That's akin to being grateful for your local shop owner that they allowed you to sweep the floor for other customers.

mt42or 8 hours ago|

Is it legal ? Surely not in any EU countries.

okanat 8 hours ago||

Does it even matter? They trained AI on obviously copyrighted and even pirated content. If this change is legally significant and a legal breach, the existence of all models and all AI businesses also is illegal.

0x3f 7 hours ago||

It might or might not be legal, but it seems materially worse to screw over your direct customers than to violate the social-contracty nature of copyright law. But hey ho if you're not paying then you're the product, as ever was.

mentalgear 8 hours ago||

At least one instance where it was enabled in EU countries as well.

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