Why has the change caused so much controversy?

A recent Terms of Service update from WeTransfer has caused controversy, as it suggested that the file sharing platform can use your content to train AI models. But what’s the real story?

As you’d expect, there’s been a huge uproar from users, who are concerned about the safety of their files. But what do the new terms really mean? Should you stop using WeTransfer entirely, or has the whole thing been blown out of proportion?

We explain everything you need to know about WeTransfer’s latest terms update, and explain whether or not they’re really a cause for concern.

What happened with WeTransfer?

On the July 1, WeTransfer quietly updated its Terms of Service which noted: “You hereby grant us a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable license to use your Content for the purposes of operating, developing, commercializing, and improving the Service or new technologies or services, including to improve performance of machine learning models that enhance our content moderation process in accordance with the Privacy & Cooking Policy.”

Essentially, this suggests that any content uploaded and shared via WeTransfer could be used to train AI, even if it’s confidential or you simply don’t want it to. WeTransfer explains this update was expected to go ahead from August 8, so supposedly any files shared before this were not included.

After receiving backlash, WeTransfer released a statement on July 17 to clarify what the new terms really mean. The statement explains that WeTransfer doesn’t “use machine learning or any form of AI to process content shared via WeTransfer” and elaborates “such a feature hasn’t been built or used in practice, but it was under consideration for the future.”

WeTransfer has since removed any mention of machine learning or AI from its terms of service, so it now reads as: “In order to allow us to operate, provide you with, and improve the Service and our technologies, we must obtain from you certain rights related to Content that is covered by intellectual property rights. You hereby grant us a royalty-free license to use your Content for the purposes of operating, developing, and improving the Service, all in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy.”

So does WeTransfer use uploaded content to train AI?

WeTransfer ended its statement with clarifying points “to be extra clear” which explains that “we are not using your content to train AI models” and “your content is always your content”. It also promises that its terms are “compliant with applicable privacy laws, including the GDPR” and it doesn’t “sell your content to third parties”.

Opinion

Despite WeTransfer assuring its users in a clear statement that it’s “not using your content to train AI models”, many users have reported on X that they’re unlikely to return to the platform as the initial terms have raised concerns about how safe their content will be.

As WeTransfer has clarified its policy and removed all mention of machine learning from its terms, we’d argue that the company has done the right thing in this instance. However, as WeTransfer has noted that sharing with AI was “under consideration for the future”, if you’re concerned about your private files being used unknowingly then we’d recommend keeping an eye on its terms moving forward.

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