WeTransfer Clarifies User Content Will Not Be Used for AI Training

• WeTransfer clarified that user content will not be used for AI training.
• The company faced backlash over its updated terms of service.
• Revised terms removed mentions of AI and machine learning completely.
• Creative professionals had raised concerns over content usage in AI.
• Writers’ Guild praised WeTransfer for providing clarity on the issue.

WeTransfer Clarifies AI Training Policies Following User Concerns

WeTransfer, the well-known file sharing service, has come out with some important news after facing significant public backlash over its recent service terms. The company, which has long served as a go-to tool for creative professionals looking to easily transfer their work, had suggested in an updated clause that users’ uploaded files could be utilized to enhance machine learning models. This suggestion immediately raised eyebrows and sparked confusion among its user base, many of whom rely heavily on the platform to share their creative endeavors.

Users Express Discontent, Prompt Company Reaction

The initial terms had a section that claimed WeTransfer reserved the right to “reproduce, modify, distribute and publicly display” user content. This raised alarm bells for many, including voice actors, filmmakers, and journalists, who voiced their concerns on social media, threatening to cancel their subscriptions if this clause remained. However, the company was quick to respond with a statement from a spokesperson clarifying that user content had never been used, not even internally, to train or develop any AI models, stating that no specific type of AI was being considered for implementation at the Dutch company.

Company Aims to Reassure Users Amidst Growing Concerns

In light of the backlash, WeTransfer made revisions to its terms of service, aiming to simplify the language and offer easier comprehension. The updates removed any mention of machine learning or AI from the terms, which many users welcomed. The new section now directly grants WeTransfer a royalty-free license to use content strictly for operating, developing, and improving the service, aligning with their privacy and cookie policy. The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain expressed satisfaction with this change, emphasizing that members’ work should never be used for AI training without consent, echoing a growing concern in creative circles about intellectual property and income theft.

In summary, WeTransfer has made significant revisions to its terms of service following backlash over the potential use of user content for AI training. The company reassured its users that their content would not be used in this way, safeguarding the livelihoods of creative professionals. Now with simplified terms and clearer licensing conditions, users can feel more secure utilizing the service without fears of unapproved usage of their material.