SoundCloud reorganized the service conditions for artificial intelligence and introduced an open approval requirement to use the contents of the artists in this field. The contract update, which contains the company last year, has created a serious discomfort between musicians and content producers. In the new statement, it was assumed that this change was not transparent enough and it was undertaken that there will be no artificial intelligence training without the consent of the content owners. Thus, an important step has been taken in the context of content ownership and creative rights.
The announcement of the updated policy was made by Eliah Seton, SoundCloud CEO. Seton said that artists’ works can only be used in artificial intelligence systems in line with their request. In particular, the sounds, music and artist similarities, without consent or modeled to be prohibited. It was stated that the open approval will be taken with a participation system defined as “OPT-in ..
Previously, an update made in February 2024 included a general provision claiming that users could be used for the training of AI systems. This was considered as a potential violation by many content producers. The relevant article stated that the contents could be used in various technological processes, including AI training unless a separate agreement was made. SoundCloud had to step back on the reactions.
SoundCloud will be based on the use of artificial intelligence based on artist consent
The new arrangement not only strengthens the control of content owners, but also is also guiding in terms of future technological investments of the platform. SoundCloud currently uses artificial intelligence suggestions, content labeling and fraud prevention. However, the evaluation of musical content as educational data brought about ethical debates. This step of the company may set an example in the sector especially in terms of royalties and content rights.
However, Ed Newton-Rex, a technology ethics expert, thinks that the change still contains some uncertainties. According to Newton-Rex, an open door may still be left that content can be used indirectly in the training of “non-imitation but competing” systems. This view finds support in circles that argue that the concept of content ownership is not only a technical imitation. In any case, it is clear that the new language is more protective than the previous text.
On the other hand, the SoundCloud platform is currently working on technical measures that can limit the processing of content by AI with the label “No AI”. Such tagging aims to provide automatic controls on how content can be used in AI systems in the future. In addition to all these, how the open consent system will work and how effective will be more clearly after the application starts. The company’s OPT-in mechanism is expected to be commissioned in the coming weeks.
Updates are not only a change of contracting item. This step is considered as an indicator of increasing awareness of digital platforms to content owners. SoundCloud’s move is an important example, especially when the effect of artificial intelligence on creative industries. Similar debates within the music sector are likely to spread to other platforms.
In spite of everything, although the statements of the platform provide assurance for the artists, the sustainability of the consistency in practice will continue to be the main issue. The fact that the consent mechanism is transparent and user -friendly will determine how successful SoundCloud will be in this process. Likewise, in the future, such contract changes should be made more carefully and clearly. Corporate transparency and communication play a decisive role in such transformations.
How to protect the production of artists in the face of developing technologies will directly affect the future of digital content platforms. Therefore, SoundCloud’s artificial intelligence policy is not only a regulation of this platform, but part of a wider ethical transformation. The clarification of the limits of content ownership closely concerns both the trust of users and the sustainability of the digital ecosystem. In this context, the update of SoundCloud is a critical example of the protection of content rights in the digital age.