EyeEm, a photo-sharing community based in Berlin, recently made changes to its Terms & Conditions that allow the company to license users’ photos to train AI models. Users were given a 30-day window to opt out by removing their content from the platform. If they did not opt out, their photos would be used for this purpose.
At the time of its acquisition in 2023, EyeEm had a library of 160 million images and nearly 150,000 users. Despite its decline, the app continues to be downloaded by almost 30,000 people each month. EyeEm was once seen as a potential competitor to Instagram and was even referred to as “Europe’s Instagram.” However, the company had dwindled down to just three staff members before it was sold to Freepik.
Joaquin Cuenca Abela, CEO of Freepik, hinted at the company’s plans to incorporate more AI into EyeEm’s platform. This led to the decision to sell users’ photos to train AI models. The updated Terms & Conditions state that by uploading content to EyeEm, users grant the company the rights to reproduce, distribute, display, and make derivative works of their content. This includes using the content for the training and improvement of software and machine learning models.
Section 13 of the Terms & Conditions explains the process for deleting content from EyeEm’s platform. Users can delete photos directly, but this does not affect content shared on EyeEm Magazine or social media. To delete content from the EyeEm Market or other platforms, users must submit a request and wait up to 180 days for the deletion to be completed.
The notice also states that users’ authorization for EyeEm to market and license their content remains valid until it is deleted from EyeEm and partner platforms. Section 8 of the Terms & Conditions details the licensing rights for training AI models, while Section 10 informs users that they will not receive any payouts for their work if they delete their account.
EyeEm’s actions highlight the trend of AI models being trained on users’ content without their explicit consent. While EyeEm did offer an opt-out option, many photographers may have missed the announcement or ignored it. The short 30-day notice and lack of a bulk delete option upset users who wanted to opt out.
Twitter users expressed their frustration with EyeEm’s changes, calling it a “destructive rights grab” and urging existing users to leave the platform. This kind of behavior is driving users to consider alternative platforms like Pixelfed, which promises not to use users’ images to train AI models.
Requests for comment from EyeEm have not been confirmed at this time. However, the urgency of the situation prompted this article to be published before receiving a response. EyeEm’s actions and the backlash from users demonstrate why many individuals are seeking out platforms that prioritize privacy and transparency.