News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/9th June 2024
Adobe’s recent notification regarding an update to its terms of service (TOS) has sparked significant backlash among its user base. The update, which users had to accept to continue accessing Adobe’s apps and services, was perceived as granting Adobe unrestricted access to use their content for training AI models. This interpretation caused widespread concern, especially among creatives who feared that Adobe might exploit their work to enhance Firefly, Adobe’s generative AI model, or access sensitive projects under non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
The notification specified that Adobe might access user content through both automated and manual methods, directing users to a section that mentioned the use of techniques such as machine learning to analyze content for improving services, software, and user experiences. This update quickly went viral, with many users interpreting the vague language as a threat to their creative rights and privacy.
In response to the uproar, Adobe published a blog post to clarify the situation and reassure its users. The company asserted that its commitment to customers had not changed and confirmed that it does not use customer content to train Firefly or claim ownership of users’ work. According to Adobe, Firefly’s generative AI models are trained on datasets consisting of licensed content, such as Adobe Stock, and public domain content with expired copyrights.
A comparison of the TOS before and after the update revealed minimal changes. The term “machine learning” had been part of the TOS for years, associated with AI technologies used in Adobe tools like Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill and Lightroom’s Select Subject. Interestingly, the updated language had been in place since February, but Adobe only recently informed users of the change.
Scott Belsky, Adobe’s chief product officer, acknowledged on X (formerly Twitter) that the notification’s wording was unclear and mentioned that Adobe’s legal team was working to address concerns about the ambiguous language. Belsky emphasized that trust and transparency are crucial, noting that similar provisions had been in the TOS for over a decade.
Despite Adobe’s reassurances, the update led some users to cancel their subscriptions. One user, Sasha Yanshin, expressed his frustration on X, stating, “I just cancelled my Adobe licence after many years as a customer. The new terms give Adobe a ‘worldwide royalty-free licence to reproduce, display, distribute’ or do whatever they want with any content I produce using their software. This is beyond insane. No creator in their right mind can accept this.”
Adobe has faced criticism over the years, particularly from individual creatives who feel the company no longer prioritizes their interests. The shift from a one-time purchase model to recurring subscriptions and allegations of monopolistic practices have tarnished its image. Last year, Adobe had to abandon its attempt to acquire Figma due to regulatory concerns. Despite these issues, Adobe’s products remain the industry standard, making it difficult for professionals to avoid using them.
