Photobucket Caught Selling 13 Billion User Photos to AI – Are Your Private Pictures at Risk
- Tech Brief
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
Photobucket, a prominent photo-hosting platform since 2003, is facing significant legal challenges due to its recent initiative to license user-uploaded images for artificial intelligence (AI) training. The company has amassed approximately 13 billion photos over the years. In an effort to monetize this extensive repository, Photobucket updated its terms of service to permit the licensing of publicly marked images to AI companies. This move has sparked a class-action lawsuit alleging violations of privacy and intellectual property rights.
The lawsuit contends that Photobucket has been licensing billions of users' photos to train AI systems without obtaining proper consent. The plaintiffs argue that this practice infringes upon privacy and intellectual property laws, particularly concerning the extraction of biometric data from these images. They claim that Photobucket's actions are unauthorized and exploitative, especially affecting users who have been inactive on the platform for extended periods.
In response to these allegations, Photobucket's CEO, Ted Leonard, has stated that only images designated as "public" are considered for licensing, and that no photos have been used for AI training without user consent. He emphasized that users have the option to opt out by reactivating their accounts and setting their photos to private. Leonard views the licensing of content for AI training as a significant revenue stream, comparable to the advertising income the company generated in the past.
This situation highlights the broader ethical and legal challenges at the intersection of user-generated content and AI development. It underscores the necessity for clear communication and explicit consent from users when their personal data is utilized for purposes beyond the original intent of the platform.
Sources
1. "Photobucket Sued for Licensing Billions of Users' Images to Train AI"
This article reports on a federal class-action lawsuit filed against Photobucket, alleging that the company violated privacy and intellectual property laws by licensing over 13 billion user photos for AI training without consent. The lawsuit seeks to prevent Photobucket from selling users' data without obtaining written permission.
2. "Photobucket opted inactive users into privacy nightmare, lawsuit says"
According to this report, Photobucket is accused of automatically opting inactive users into new terms of service that allow the company to license their photos for AI training. The lawsuit claims that this practice violates privacy laws, particularly concerning the extraction of biometric data without user consent.
3. "PRESS RELEASE: MySpace-Era Website Photobucket Sued for Selling User’s Biometric Data"
This press release details a class-action lawsuit against Photobucket, alleging that the company planned to sell user photos to AI companies without proper consent. The lawsuit contends that Photobucket attempted to secure permission through misleading emails and by automatically opting users into new terms if they did not respond.
4. "Your old images stored on Photobucket could soon be used to train AI"
This article discusses Photobucket's plan to license user photos marked as "public" to AI companies for training datasets. CEO Ted Leonard states that private photos will not be included and that users can opt out by reactivating their accounts and setting them to private. The company views this initiative as a significant revenue source.
5. "Photobucket Facing Lawsuit Over Plan to Sell 13 Billion User Photos to Third Parties"
This report covers the class-action lawsuit against Photobucket, focusing on the company's plan to license over 13 billion images to third parties for biometric and AI training purposes. The lawsuit alleges that Photobucket did not obtain proper consent from users before implementing this plan.
These articles collectively highlight the legal and ethical challenges arising from Photobucket's initiative to monetize user photos for AI training, emphasizing the importance of user consent and privacy in the digital age.
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