The well-known FileSharing Service Wetransfer has clarified that user content will not be used for training artificial intelligence, following a backlash over recent changes to their terms of service.
The company, widely utilized by creative professionals for online work transfers, had suggested in the updated terms that uploaded files might be utilized to “enhance machine learning models.”
The initial provision indicated that the service reserved the right to “reproduce, modify, distribute, publish” user content, leading to confusion with the revised wording.
A spokesperson for Wetransfer stated that user content has never been utilized internally for testing or developing AI models and mentioned that “specific types of AI” are being considered for use by companies in the Netherlands.
The company assured, “There is no change in how Wetransfer handles content.”
On Tuesday, Wetransfer updated its terms and conditions, eliminating references to machine learning or AI to clarify the language for users.
The spokesperson noted, “We hope that by removing the machine learning reference and refining the legal terminology, we can alleviate customer concerns regarding the updates.”
Currently, the relevant section of the Service Terminology states, “We hereby grant you a royalty-free license to utilize our content for the purpose of operating, developing, and enhancing the service in accordance with our Privacy and Cookie Policy.”
Some service users, including a voice actor, a filmmaker, and a journalist, shared concerns about the new terms on X and threatened to terminate their subscriptions.
The use of copyrighted material by AI companies has become a contentious issue within the creative industry, which argues that using creators’ work without permission jeopardizes their income and aids in the development of competing tools.
The British Writer’s Guild expressed relief at Wetransfer’s clarification, emphasizing, “Never use members’ work to train AI systems without consent.”
Wetransfer affirmed, “As a company deeply embedded in the creative community, we prioritize our customers and their work. We will continue our efforts to ensure Wetransfer remains the leading product for our users.”
Founded in 2009, the company enables users to send large files via email without the need for an official account. Today, the service caters to 80 million users each month across 190 countries.
Source: www.theguardian.com
