I checked the settings since interaction data from GitHub Copilot Free/Pro/Pro+ will be used for AI model training starting April 24.
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I normally use GitHub Copilot in my development work, but I haven't paid much attention to how interaction data is handled. Until now, it was clearly stated that all plans would not use data for training.
However, on March 25, 2026, GitHub announced updates to their Privacy Statement and Terms of Service and Copilot interaction data usage policy. Starting April 24, 2026, interaction data from Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ users will be used for AI model training. This will be enabled by default, so if you don't want to participate, you'll need to explicitly opt out.
In this article, I'll organize the changes and introduce the opt-out procedure.
TL;DR
- Copilot Free / Pro / Pro+ users are affected
- After April 24, interaction data will be used for training by default
- To opt out, visit GitHub settings "Privacy"
- No action needed if you've already opted out before (settings will be preserved)
- Copilot Business / Enterprise users are not affected
Overview of Changes
What's Changing
Until now, Copilot interaction data (prompts, generated code, code snippets, surrounding context, etc.) was not used for AI model training.
After April 24, the following data from Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ users will be used for training:
- Approved or edited outputs (code completions, chat answers, etc.)
- Inputs sent to Copilot (including prompts and code snippets)
- Code context around your cursor
- Comments and documentation
- File names, repository structure, and navigation patterns
- Interactions with Copilot features (chat, inline suggestions, etc.)
- Feedback on suggestions (👍/👎 ratings)
Before and After Comparison
| Item | Until April 23 | From April 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Use of training data | Not used | Used by default |
| Free / Pro / Pro+ | No impact | Subject to this change |
| Business / Enterprise | No impact | Still no impact |
| Stored code in private repositories | Not used for training | No change (still not used) |
| Inputs/outputs during Copilot usage | Not used for training | May be used for training |
| Sharing with third parties | Not shared | No change (still not shared) |
About Private Repositories
Many might be concerned about "Will code from private repositories be used for training?"
According to the official explanation, there's a distinction:
- Source code that is stored (at rest) will continue not to be used for training
- Code sent during Copilot usage (interaction data) may be subject to training unless you opt out
We use the phrase "at rest" deliberately because Copilot does process code from private repositories when you are actively using Copilot.
In other words, prompts sent to Copilot and code suggestions received while working in private repositories will be included as interaction data. Caution is needed when handling business code.
Data Sharing Scope
Data used for training may be shared with GitHub's affiliated companies including Microsoft.
However, the following points remain unchanged:
- Data will not be provided to third-party AI model providers
- Opt-out settings also apply to data shared with affiliated companies
Why This Change
GitHub has been using interaction data from Microsoft employees for training since last year and has confirmed improvements in code suggestion acceptance rates across multiple languages. They want to leverage data from general users to address more diverse use cases.
Changes to Terms and Documentation
Along with this policy change, the Privacy Statement and Terms of Service are also being revised. The main changes are as follows:
Privacy Policy
- Development and improvement of AI/ML technology has been added as a purpose for sharing personal data with Microsoft and other affiliates
- AI development is explicitly listed as a "processing purpose"
- For EEA/UK users, legitimate interest is specified as the legal basis for AI development
Terms of Service
- Definitions for
AI Feature,Affiliate,Input,Output,Your Content, etc. have been added - Section J (newly established) consolidates provisions related to AI features, learning, and data
- The relationship between private repositories and AI (Section E) has been clarified
How to Opt Out
If you don't want your data to be used for training, you can opt out using these steps:
Step 1: Open Settings Page
Open https://github.com/settings/copilot in your browser.
Step 2: Check the Privacy Section
Scroll to the "Privacy" section on the page and check the "Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training" item.
Step 3: Turn Off the Toggle and Save
To opt out, select "Disabled" from the dropdown and save.
Note that if you previously turned off the "Don't let GitHub collect my data" setting, that setting will be carried over, so you don't need to take action again. The key points to check in this change are:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Enabled | After April 24, interaction data will be used for training |
| Disabled | Will not be used for training (should be in this state if you previously opted out) |
For Copilot Pro Users
For Copilot Business Users
For Copilot Business (paid organization) accounts, the setting to allow learning doesn't exist at all.
Summary
Let's recap the key points of this change:
- Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ users are recommended to check their settings by April 24
- Opt out from the settings page if you don't want your data to be used for training
- No additional action needed if you've previously opted out
- Business and Enterprise users are not affected
- Stored code in private repositories is not targeted, but inputs/outputs during Copilot usage may be
Copilot's data usage policy has evolved: initially, only Free users were subject to training, then all plans were excluded from training, and now Free, Pro, and Pro+ users are once again subject to training. I feel the policy has changed amid intensifying competition around AI among companies over the past year. Since it's opt-in by default, some users may become subject to training without realizing it. If you use Copilot for work, it's good to check whether your organization's plan is Free/Pro/Pro+ or Business/Enterprise.
I hope this is helpful for those struggling with the same issue.
References
- How to investigate repositories with GitHub Copilot's Web console — An article investigating licenses as of March 3. At that point, it was clearly stated that no plans would use data for training
- License terms and your data usage
- Updates to our Privacy Statement and Terms of Service: How we use your data – GitHub Changelog
- Updates to GitHub Copilot interaction data usage policy – GitHub Blog
- FAQ and community discussion