TL;DR
GitHub will begin using your Copilot interaction data for AI model training starting April 24, 2026. This includes your code snippets, chat conversations, and acceptance decisions unless you manually opt out. To keep your code private, update your settings at github.com/settings/copilot before the deadline.
Introduction
Your development workflow could soon be training someone else's AI.
On April 24, 2026, GitHub's updated Copilot policy takes effect. Microsoft and GitHub will use everything you type into Copilot—including code snippets, debugging questions, and refactoring requests—as training data for future AI models. This policy includes proprietary code from private repositories.
You likely won't receive a direct notification about this change. If you manage a team or work with sensitive code, share this post with your engineering lead and act before the opt-out window closes.
What Changed in GitHub's Copilot Policy
GitHub presents this update as a way to "personalize and improve" Copilot, but the data usage goes much further.
The Policy Timeline
April 24, 2026 is the enforcement date. After this, GitHub assumes you've consented unless you opt out via your account settings.
GitHub's statement refers to "interaction data" for AI training. Here's what that includes:
What GitHub Collects
| Data Type | What It Includes | Privacy Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Code snippets | Code you write or modify with Copilot | Proprietary algorithms, business logic, API details |
| Chat conversations | Full context of Copilot Chat sessions | Architecture decisions, debugging workflows |
| Acceptance decisions | Choices you accept or reject | Signals about what is "good" code |
| File context | Surrounding code during Copilot suggestions | Database schemas, authentication, internal APIs |
| Correction patterns | How you modify Copilot's output | Coding standards, security practices |
All this data helps train GitHub's models. Once your code is incorporated, its patterns may appear in suggestions to other users—including competitors.
Why the Default Matters
GitHub frames this as letting you "review this update and manage your preferences." The burden is on you to find and enable privacy protections.
Default after April 24: You are opted in.
Most users never change default settings. For reference, only about 15-20% typically opt out when given the option. GitHub's approach assumes most will remain opted in.
Step-by-Step: How to Opt Out of GitHub Copilot Data Collection
Act before April 24. Opting out takes just a couple of minutes.
Method 1: Individual Account Settings
1. Navigate to Copilot Settings
- Visit github.com
- Click your profile icon (top right)
- Select "Settings"
- Click "Copilot" in the left sidebar
2. Find the Data Usage Section
- Scroll to "Privacy"
- Find "Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training"
- Disable this option
- Confirm the setting is disabled
3. Confirm the Change
- The change can take up to 30 minutes to apply
- Restart your code editor for immediate effect
Method 2: Organization-Wide Settings (For Admins)
To enforce opt-out for all members in a GitHub Organization:
1. Access Organization Settings
- Go to your organization's main page
- Click "Settings" in org navigation
- Select "Copilot" from the left menu
2. Configure Data Policies
- Find "Copilot data usage policies"
- Select "Disable interaction data collection for all members"
- Save changes
3. Communicate to Your Team
- Document the policy in your wiki
- Notify via Slack or email
- Add to onboarding checklists for new hires
Verification Steps
After opting out, verify your settings:
# No CLI command, but you can:
# 1. Check the settings page (the option is unchecked)
# 2. Download your data via Settings > Privacy > Download your data
# 3. Observe Copilot for any behavioral change
Important: Opting out only stops future data collection. Previously collected data is not deleted.
Enterprise and Compliance Considerations
If you're in a regulated industry or handle sensitive data, this policy increases risk.
Industries Requiring Extra Scrutiny
| Industry | Regulation | Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | HIPAA | PHI exposure in code/comments |
| Finance | SOC 2, GDPR | Transaction logic, PII handling |
| Government | FedRAMP, ITAR | Classified architectures, security protocols |
| Enterprise SaaS | Customer contracts | Proprietary algorithms, competitive advantage |
Questions to Ask Your Legal Team
Before April 24, discuss with legal/compliance:
- Does our GitHub MSA address AI training data usage?
- Do customer contracts prohibit sharing code with third-party AI?
- What liability if proprietary code appears in competitor suggestions?
- Should we negotiate enterprise terms for stricter data restrictions?
GitHub Enterprise Options
If you use GitHub Enterprise, contact your account rep to discuss:
- Contractual guarantees against training data usage
- Private model instances for regulated workloads
- Enhanced audit logging
- Custom data retention policies
Apidog for API Development Privacy
For API teams, privacy isn’t just about code completion. Apidog offers a privacy-focused alternative to cloud API tools:
- Local-first: API specs are stored on your machine
- No training on customer data: Your API definitions are not used for model training
- Self-hosted: Full data sovereignty for regulated environments
- Secure collaboration: Share specs internally, with no third-party access
When considering AI development tools, always ask: Where does my data go, and how is it used? The answer should be explicit and contractually clear.
What Happens If You Don't Opt Out
After April 24, if you remain opted in:
Your code enters the training pipeline
- Interaction data is continuously batched
- No notification when your data is used
- No way to request deletion later
Potential exposure scenarios
- A competitor using Copilot with similar prompts may see suggestions resembling your code
- No audit trail to track which data influenced model outputs
Compliance complications
- Customer audits may flag AI training data usage
- Regulatory inquiries may require data mapping you can't provide
- Possible contractual breach notifications
Can You Opt Out Later?
Yes, but with caveats:
- Future data: Stops collection from the point you opt out
- Historical data: Already used data may remain in model weights; deletion is not guaranteed
- Retraining: Even after deletion, models may have "learned" from your data
Best practice: Opt out before April 24.
Conclusion
GitHub's Copilot policy update takes effect April 24. Unless you opt out, your code snippets, conversations, and acceptance patterns will be used to train GitHub's AI models.
Spend two minutes to protect your IP, your team's code, and your organization's compliance. Don't risk your code training a competitor's AI.
For API teams that want modern tooling without privacy trade-offs, consider Apidog: an all-in-one API platform keeping your specs private by default.
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