Adobe Faces Backlash over a Recent Update to Its Terms of Services

Adobe is facing severe criticism from its customers after a recent update to its Terms and Services policy for its genAI products.

This change is applicable to both manually-created content and AI-generated content.

However, some users have interpreted the update as allowing Adobe free access to their content. Some users also believe that accepting these terms would mean they are allowing their content to be used for training AI models.

The worst part is, that users are compelled to accept this new policy if they wish to continue to use Adobe’s products and services.

Soon after the update, which will approximately affect 20 million global users of Adobe’s Creative Cloud Suite was announced, users took to their social media accounts and started criticizing it.

For example, one user shared a screenshot of the new policy on X and said that creative professionals who are under an NDA with their clients should refrain from using Adobe because it can no longer be trusted.

Another user even went as far as to accuse the company of stealing from its users.

What Did Adobe Say in Response to the Outrage?

Adobe addressed the concerns of its users and published a blog to clarify what this update actually means. It said that its commitment to the customers has not changed.

A close before/after analysis of its Terms & Services revealed that it’s telling the truth. Even in the previous version, the term “machine learning” (which particularly drove users into a frenzy) was still there.

As an Adobe spokesman said, the gist of the policy is more or less the same. The main thing that has changed is the wording.

Adobe’s chief product officer, Scott Belsky shared a post on X explaining a part of the update and further added that although these terms are nothing new, it’s true that the wording in the notification received by the users is not clear and the company’s legal team is already working on it.

Adobe’s Deteriorating Image among Users

The reason why people are so quick to believe that Adobe might be using its content to train its AI models is because the company hasn’t managed to maintain its image over the years.

The biggest blow to its users’ trust was when it replaced its one-time purchase model with a recurring subscription model. This made users feel that the company no longer has their best interests in mind.

But again, Adobe’s products are usually considered the “industry standard”. So this small controversy will not have a huge impact on its numbers. However, it cannot afford to keep making mistakes that hamper the trust of its users. This is a highly competitive industry and everyone is replaceable, even Adobe.