EyeEm: Delete photos, otherwise AI training is imminent
If you don't want your photos to become training material for AI, you have to delete them from the EyeEm platform. The terms and conditions stipulate this.
EyeEm licenses photos for AI if you don't delete them.
(Bild: photoschmidt/ Shutterstock.com)
Selling photos as AI training data is now big business - and the Berlin-based company EyeEm apparently wants to get in on the act. The general terms and conditions contain clear statements in several sections that, in case of doubt, the images will be sold as fodder for machine learning.
As can be read directly in the terms and conditions, EyeEm wants to make uploaded images available for AIs in any case. Section 8.1 states: "If you do not agree to this, you should not add your content to the EyeEm community." This means that by uploading, you have already agreed to this in the company's opinion.
EyeEm does not provide for an opt-out or revocation specifically for AI training, judging by the terms and conditions. The only alternative appears to be deletion, as TechCrunch reports. The US media outlet asked EyeEm about the conditions, but received no response. Deletion itself is not so easy either. According to section 13 of the terms and conditions, you can remove images from the platform yourself. However, if these have already been presented in EyeEm's own magazine or used in the social media channels, this can take some time. Up to 180 days, according to EyeEm. And even this is only guaranteed if you contact the company via an email address.
Problematic for professional stock photographers
This is particularly problematic because EyeEm also acts as a database for stock photos. Such services serve photographers as an online store that licenses their images to other users. If you want to make a living from this and still not make your own photos available for AI training, you also have to prevent the sale of licenses by deleting them. According to EyeEm, it has a database of over 32 million images from 8 million users of the service.
EyeEm was founded in 2011 and quickly attracted a lot of attention, partly due to the entry of investor Peter Thiel via his company Valar Ventures. Because a community was developed around photos, the company was often referred to as the European Instagram. The community also worked by recognizing similar images, which would be referred to as AI today. In 2023, EyeEm filed for bankruptcy and was taken over by the Spanish company FreePik. This is one of the largest providers of stock photos, which is also actively seeking deals with AI providers.
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