Adobe's New Terms of Service Spark User Outrage Over Privacy Concerns

Adobe recently revised its terms of use, a routine action for many companies, but these changes have ignited significant controversy and user backlash.

The updated terms now allow Adobe to access any media uploaded to its Creative Cloud and Document Cloud services, which has led to an outcry over privacy concerns and calls for a boycott. Users were so disturbed by the changes that Adobe had to issue a statement to clarify the new terms.

Previously, Adobe’s terms stated they would access, view, or listen to user content in limited ways. The new wording has been altered to "we may access, view, or listen to your content" and now includes the phrase "through both automated and manual methods." These changes also include provisions for manually (human) reviewing user data.

Adobe explained that it needs a limited license to access content for operating and improving its services, enforcing terms, and complying with laws, such as protecting against abusive content. The company stated that its applications might access content to perform their designed roles, apply cloud-based effects and filters, and screen for illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material, or other abusive behavior, such as spam or phishing, through automated technologies and manual review.

While these changes are intended to improve service quality and ensure legal compliance, many users feel that allowing such broad access to personal and sensitive content is intrusive. The shift from a more restrictive to a broader permission for content access raises concerns about privacy and data protection, undermining user trust in Adobe’s assurances.

On a positive note, Adobe clarified that it will not use customer content to train its Firefly Gen AI models and emphasized that it will never claim ownership of a customer’s work.