WeTransfer has confirmed it doesn’t use information uploaded to their service to coach synthetic intelligence (AI) fashions.
The file sharing firm had acquired a number of criticism from prospects on social media after altering its phrases of service, which some interpreted as permitting it the precise to make use of information for AI coaching.
A WeTransfer spokeswoman instructed BBC Information: “We do not use machine studying or any type of AI to course of content material shared by way of WeTransfer, nor will we promote content material or knowledge to any third events.”
The agency has now up to date its phrases, saying it has “made the language simpler to grasp” to keep away from confusion.
WeTransfer stated the clause was initially added to “embody the opportunity of utilizing AI to enhance content material moderation” and to determine dangerous content material.
It seems to have been modified in late June or early July, in accordance with snapshots taken on the Web Archive.
The phrases had stated WeTransfer might use content material for functions “together with to enhance efficiency of machine studying fashions that improve our content material moderation course of”.
It additionally included the precise for WeTransfer to “reproduce, distribute, modify,” or “publicly show” information uploaded to the service.
Some customers on social media interpreted this as WeTransfer giving itself the precise to share or promote the information uploaded by customers to AI firms.
Individuals working within the artistic industries, together with an illustrator and an actor, posted on X to say they used the service to ship work and have been contemplating altering to different suppliers.
WeTransfer stated it up to date the clause on Tuesday, “as we have seen this passage could have brought on confusion for our prospects.”
The clause within the phrases of service now says: “You hereby grant us a royalty-free license to make use of your Content material for the needs of working, growing, and enhancing the Service, all in accordance with our Privateness & Cookie Coverage.”
The rival file-sharing platform Dropbox additionally needed to make clear it was not utilizing information uploaded to its service to coach AI fashions, after social media outcry in December 2023.
