EyeEm, the once-promising Berlin-based photo-sharing community that was acquired by Spanish company Freepik after facing bankruptcy, is now facing backlash for its decision to license users’ photos to train AI models without explicit consent. The company recently updated its Terms & Conditions, informing users via email that their content could be used to “train, develop, and improve software, algorithms, and machine-learning models.”
With a photo library of 160 million images and nearly 150,000 users at the time of its acquisition, EyeEm had dwindled to a staff of three before the sale. Despite its decline, the platform still sees around 30,000 downloads per month. The updated terms grant EyeEm the right to use users’ content for AI training, with users given a 30-day window to opt out by removing their content from the platform.
The move has sparked outrage among users, who feel blindsided by the lack of transparency and the short notice period for opting out. Many photographers are now scrambling to delete their content from EyeEm to avoid having their work used without their permission.
Critics have pointed out the unethical nature of using users’ content to train AI models without their explicit consent. The situation has also highlighted the importance of data privacy and user rights in the age of AI technology.
As users express their frustration and concerns, alternative platforms like Pixelfed are seizing the opportunity to attract disillusioned EyeEm users by emphasizing their commitment to privacy and user rights. EyeEm’s controversial decision serves as a cautionary tale for other platforms seeking to leverage user-generated content for AI training without clear consent mechanisms in place.