May 8, 2024 at 04:04PM
OpenAI’s partnership with Stack Overflow has raised concerns among users, who fear unauthorized use of their data and potential inaccuracies from OpenAI’s language models. Users attempted to delete their posts in protest, but faced resistance from Stack Overflow, citing the collective effort of community contributions. GDPR regulations also complicate the issue. Stack Overflow’s stance on post deletion remains uncertain.
Based on the meeting notes, there are several key takeaways:
1. Concerns about Data Usage: Some members are concerned about OpenAI using their data from Stack Overflow without permission, potentially leading to the creation of inaccurate information by LLMs.
2. Users’ Attempt to Delete Answers: Some users on Stack Overflow have tried to delete their answers in protest of the partnership, but Stack Overflow’s policies do not generally allow the deletion of posts if the question has any answers.
3. Forum Data Deletion and GDPR: Article 17 of the GDPR gives users in the EU the ‘right to be forgotten,’ which may include requests to remove forum posts and user-generated content. However, it’s also stated that a website has the right not to delete data if necessary for “exercising the right of freedom of expression and information.”
Overall, the partnership announcement has caused concerns among some members, leading to attempted actions that are in conflict with Stack Overflow’s policies and GDPR regulations. The potential impact of this partnership and the handling of user-generated content are important factors to consider.