WeTransfer updates T&Cs, allows it to use your data to train AI
The WeTransfer service, used by creatives to transfer their work, is the latest to want to use your work to train AI models. More here.
One of the most popular services for sending large files around the world, and as such used by a lot of independent filmmakers, is WeTransfer. If youâve not used it before, the service allows you to transfer large files to another party by uploading them to the WeTransferâs servers; the recipient is then emailed a link to download them.
Itâs a good service, with the premium version offering greater capacity. The free version is pretty generous too, and understandably for creative collaboration, itâs become really rather useful.
WeTransfer has announced a change in its Terms & Conditions at WeTransfer, however, which formally comes into effect in August. Thereâs a paragraph under the heading of âContentâ, clause 6.3, that might generate some concern among its users.
You hereby grant us a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable license to use your Content for the purposes of operating, developing, commercializing, and improving the Service or new technologies or services, including to improve performance of machine learning models that enhance our content moderation process, in accordance with the Privacy & Cookie Policy. Such license includes the right to reproduce, distribute, modify, prepare derivative works based upon, broadcast, communicate to the public, publicly display, and perform Content. You will not be entitled to compensation for any use of Content by us under these Terms.
(The bold highlights are ours.)
You donât need to do much reading between the lines to conclude that if you send around your creative work using WeTransfer, the company will now have the right to use it to train AI models. Furthermore, say youâd uploaded some artwork and used WeTransfer to send it to someone else, it can now stick it into an AI platform, and if people then produce âderivative worksâ based on it, you donât have a leg to stand on.
In 2023, WeTransfer boss Alexandar Vassilev shared his views on AI with The Recursive.
âI believe AI will continue to break down barriers,â he said. âIt will simplify the process of creating, distributing, and editing content, tasks that currently require a lot of time, skill, and expertise. AI will make these tasks more accessible for creatives everywhere⊠As a company, weâre developing tools and capabilities to facilitate this process. Weâre doing it the âWeTransfer wayâ â aiming to minimize barriers and friction for our users.â
The full T&Cs can be found here. They are effective as of 8th August 2025. Weâve contacted WeTransfer for comment and will update you should we receive a reply.
-- One suggested alternative service that I've seen recommended is SwissTransfer: www.swisstransfer.com/en-us
