SoundCloud found itself in hot water last week as it was accused of allowing AI training on music uploaded to the platform.
According to Pitchfork, the February 2024 clause from its Terms of Use read: “In the absence of a separate agreement that states otherwise, You [the user] explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies or services as part of and for providing the services.”
Unsurprisingly, this clause didn’t go down well with users. The platform vehemently denied using users’ music to train AI models in a statement to Pitchfork, but since then, it seems to have caved under the pressure and has changed its Terms of Use entirely.
How Did SoundCloud Respond To The Backlash?
In response to the backlash, SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton penned an open letter to users. He began by saying that the language in the Terms of Use was “too broad and wasn’t clear enough.”
“AI should support artists, not replace them” Selton wrote. “With the landscape changing rapidly, if there is an opportunity to use generative AI for the benefit of our human artists, we may make this opportunity available to our human artists with their explicit consent, via an opt-in mechanism. “
He added that the company was making “a formal commitment that any use of AI on SoundCloud will be based on consent, transparency, and artist control.”
Moving forward, Selton wrote that SoundCloud would not use users’ work to train any AI model that “aim[s] to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness.” However, he added that users would get the option to opt-in with their “explicit consent” to having their work trained by AI “to the benefit of our human artists.”
Meanwhile, the updated policy is as follows: “We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models that aim to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness without your explicit consent, which must be affirmatively provided through an opt-in mechanism.”
