SoundCloud Updates AI Policy Amid Artist Backlashes
As reported by NME, a major firm named SoundCloud has come to a conclusion and have revised their Terms of Service (TOS) as they have received a lot of criticism from the artists who had expressed concerns about usage of the uploaded content utilized in the training of AI models.
Background of the Controversy
In February 2024, with an update to the TOS, SoundCloud added language that enabled content uploaded by users to be utilized for training artificial intelligence. This revision evoked ire from musical artists who believed that their works were being utilized without explicit consent. Critics maintained that such actions would erode artists' rights and their ability to make a living.
SoundCloud's Response
In response to the backlash the company is receiving, SoundCloud's CEO, Eliah Seton, has stated the use of AI within the company. The CEO has decided to maintain the stance that the company does not use user-uploaded content to train its AI Models, and if it does, consent is obtained. An 'AI' tag has been introduced to prevent the unauthorized use of AI for content purposes.
Also Read- Greenwich Public Schools Set to Implement AI Usage Policy
Artist Concerns and Industry Implications
Still, some artists remain skeptical regarding SoundCloud's explanations because they fear the platform or its AI tools like Musiio could be exploited to extract indirect benefits from their content. This leads us to a more general recent situation in the music business, with the large labels themselves-Studio and Universal Music Group-urging platforms to respect artists' rights in relation to AI usage.
SoundCloud has updated their AI policies again and introduced more safeguards, but mutual dialogue between the platform and its community must continue for the artists' rights to be really respected in this ever-changing AI landscape.
