WeTransfer Faces Criticism Over Terms Of Service Amid AI Training Concerns

The file-sharing company WeTransfer has faced backlash from users this week after updating its terms of service. Many customers claimed that the platform would use their content to train AI models, but the tech company clarified that it does not use user content for that purpose.

Multiple users on the social media platform X shared screenshots of WeTransfer’s new terms of service, warning other users and creatives about the possible scenario of the tech company using users’ content for AI purposes.

“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 & Cookie Policy,” stated clause 6.3, as highlighted by one upset user.

How is this acceptable, @WeTransfer? You’re not a free service, I pay you to shift my big artwork files.

I DON’T pay you to have the right to use them to train AI or print, sell and distribute my artwork and set yourself up as a commercial rival to me, using my own work.😡 pic.twitter.com/OHPIjRGGOM

— Sarah McIntyre (@jabberworks) July 15, 2025

Many of the posts from concerned users went viral, prompting WeTransfer to clarify its position and revise the policy again.

“We don’t use machine learning or any form of AI to process content shared via WeTransfer, nor do we sell content or data to any third parties,” said a spokeswoman from WeTransfer to the BBC in a recent interview.

WeTransfer explained that the clause had been added as the company was exploring the possibility of using AI to improve content moderation and detect harmful data.

The company said it revised the terms again on Tuesday, as the original language “may have caused confusion” and that they have now “made the language easier to understand.”

Clause 6.3 has since been simplified and now reads: “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.”

A few weeks ago, users also complained about Mozilla’s recent updates to its privacy policy and terms of use, prompting the company to issue a public statement explaining and clarifying the changes.