Stefan BohacekMay 9, 2025

What on earth, SoundCloud??

"In the absence of a separate agreement that states otherwise, You 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."

https://soundcloud.com/terms-of-use

via @sarahdal https://crispsandwi.ch/@sarahdal/114477755873097160

#soundcloud #AI #copyright #musicians #AITraining

Nutzungsbedingungen von SoundCloud - Listen to music

SoundCloud
Show threadStefan BohacekMay 12, 2025

Not a very satisfying response.

"SoundCloud has never used any artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud-hosted content for AI training purposes. [...]

At this time, there is no opt-out mechanism available."

#soundcloud

Show threadStefan BohacekMay 14, 2025

And another update from SoundCloud support:

"With our upcoming Terms of Use update, SoundCloud will not use your content to train generative AI models unless you’ve explicitly given consent via an opt-in mechanism.

That means by default, your content will not be used for AI training, so no action is required on your part to protect your content."

And they linked to a letter from their CEO.

https://press.soundcloud.com/249951-new-campaign-may-14-2025

"SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models. Not for music creation. Not for large language models. Not for anything that tries to mimic or replace your work."

#soundcloud #AI

A Letter from our CEO: Clarifying our Terms of Use

An update to our terms of use.

SoundCloud newsroom
Show threadStefan BohacekMay 14, 2025

The revised terms of service now say:

"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."

Much better!

#soundcloud #music #AI #art #technology

Show threadPaulaToThePeople 😷
@stefan But that just implies "We'll use your content to train generative AI models for any other purpose without your permission though.", doesn't it?
May 14, 2025 at 4:30pmWeb
Show threadStefan BohacekMay 14, 2025
@PaulaToThePeople I hope that I'm not just giving them too much benefit of doubt, but I can definitely see there still being room for interpretation, you're right.
Show threadHerr Irrtum! 🔊May 15, 2025
@stefan @PaulaToThePeople

Hmm. It's indeed more clear now how they intend to use content of artists in an AI context. Currently I'd say, they even mean it in the way their CEO is claiming it.

However I wonder if they'd ever clarified this (hence actually - in practise - refrain from training generative AIs or selling user data to companies that train generative AIs), if not out of fear that their business model takes a major hit because users (like me) actually starting to leave their service because of this.

Meanwhile my trust in them is so much damaged, I don't intent to go back anymore, no matter what they say. This matter is much too delicate to me. So I guess, provided I'm not the only one thinking so (and I know I'm not) the damage is already done. Question is only, at what scale.
Show threadStefan BohacekMay 15, 2025

@herr_irrtum Yeah, the damage has definitely been done, and there's always a chance for things to change in the future.

Personally, I am already rethinking how I use their service.
@PaulaToThePeople