Adobe Faces Serious Backlash After New Policy Accused Of Stealing Users’ Unfinished Content For AI Training Purposes

The new Adobe policy has a few terms of service changed but that minor edit is unleashing serious backlash for the company.

Users are accusing the tech giant of stealing their data, even those that are yet to be published, solely for the sake of training AI models.

The company which houses plenty of popular design apps including the likes of Photoshop received immense criticism recently when the notice arose on Wednesday, speaking about how content could be accessed via various means.

Here it is. If you are a professional, if you are under NDA with your clients, if you are a creative, a lawyer, a doctor or anyone who works with proprietary files - it is time to cancel Adobe, delete all the apps and programs. Adobe can not be trusted. pic.twitter.com/LFnBbDKWLC

— Wetterschneider (@Stretchedwiener) June 5, 2024

The updated portion of the policy was said to have been in effect since February of this year but not a lot of people were aware of what’s taking place.

The automated systems could be used for content analysis via a variety of techniques like machine learning which better enhances users' experience of the software, the email further went on to read. But users were clearly not happy with the new policy.

The language is not only vague but there are specific mentions of various systems working on an automated basis. So the fact that users’ creativity was at stake really made users furious as AI tool training without attaining consent has been a subject of great debate for a while now.

Photoshop’s new terms of service require users to grant Adobe access to their active projects for “content moderation” and other purposes pic.twitter.com/weRjMfWvxx

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) June 5, 2024

Other than the implications of data theft and zero credit being given, people are having serious issues linked to privacy too because some data is said to be extremely confidential like NDA-based work.

Amid all the backlash, Adobe has stepped in to try and calm down the matter. They justified the act by adding how the software does not attain access to private devices but makes use of anything and everything stored inside its Creative Cloud.

Other than this, any other content that users themselves make public on the company’s apps would be used by algorithms and hence help to better its own products like the AI-based Firefly venture. While the company may call that out as safe, it’s said to be 100% based on publicly attained user data.

For a while now, artists have been accusing the firm of stealing data without any form of compensation but this new change in terms of service is another big eye-opener for various reasons. Remember, once users’ trust is put into jeopardy, there is no turning back.

What do experts have to say on this matter? Well, the new policy change isn’t said to be designed to expose people’s privacy. It just adds to users’ concerns about how private material is at stake and that’s not okay.

In general, it’s a sensitive debate and one that not is going to die down fast without a better explanation from the company and reassurance that private and creative material is a sensitive topic that needs to be addressed, and until that clarification comes out, it’s going to be a huge reminder of how this act is not okay.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World