GitHub Copilot Data Usage Policy Update: What Developers Need to Know

GitHub has announced an important update to its Privacy Statement and Terms of Service regarding how it uses personal data to develop, improve, and secure GitHub products and services—including training the AI models that power GitHub Copilot.

What’s Changing?

Starting April 24, 2026, interaction data from Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ users—including code snippets, inputs, outputs, and context—will be used to train and improve GitHub’s AI models unless users opt out. Copilot Business and Enterprise users are not affected by this change.

Key Points

Who is affected?
- Individual users on Free, Pro, and Pro+ plans (excluding students and teachers on free Pro).
- Business and Enterprise customers are excluded; their data is never used for model training.
What data is collected?
- Inputs sent to Copilot (code, comments, documentation)
- Outputs accepted or modified by the user
- Code context, file names, repo structure, navigation patterns
- Interactions with Copilot features (chat, inline suggestions)
What is NOT collected?
- Data from Business/Enterprise users or org-owned repos
- Data from users who opt out
- Content from private repos at rest (only code actively sent to Copilot during use)
How to opt out:
- Go to your GitHub Copilot settings and disable model training.
- If you previously opted out, your preference is preserved.
Safeguards:
- Automated filtering for sensitive data (API keys, tokens, PII)
- Strict access controls and audit logging
- No data is sold or shared with third-party model providers

Why is GitHub Making This Change?

GitHub aims to improve Copilot’s performance by learning from real-world developer interactions. This approach is similar to other industry leaders and is designed to deliver more accurate, context-aware, and secure code suggestions.

Transparency and Control

GitHub is notifying affected users directly and providing clear in-product notifications. Users have full control and can opt out at any time. The company emphasizes that participation is voluntary and that privacy and security remain top priorities.

Learn More

Summary: From April 24, 2026, GitHub Copilot will use interaction data from individual users to improve its AI models, unless users opt out. Business and Enterprise customers are not affected. Users can control their participation in settings, and GitHub has implemented multiple safeguards to protect sensitive data.