A spokesperson for WeTransfer emphatically stated: “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.”
The controversy arose after WeTransfer’s terms of service were quietly updated in late June or early July. The wording at this time included references to “reproduce, distribute, modify,” or “publicly display” uploaded files for purposes “including to improve the performance of machine learning models that enhance our content moderation process.”
This phrasing led many, particularly those in the creative industries who frequently use the service to share sensitive work, to fear their intellectual property could be used without their explicit consent for AI development. Artists and actors, among others, voiced their concerns on platforms such as X, with some even threatening to switch to alternative providers.
