Adobe's, $ADBE, new terms of service gives them access to all of your projects, for free

Adobe, known for Photoshop and Creative Cloud, has upset its user base with changes to its terms of service that grant it the right to access users' files and projects for content moderation purposes.

According to Adobe, these changes clarify that the company "may access your content through both automated and manual methods, such as for content review."

Adobe's rationale for this access is to detect and remove illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and other abusive content or behavior, including spam and phishing. The company also pointed to the rise of generative AI, which makes it easier to create realistic images and human-like text and audio.

Adobe is not alone in this practice. Companies like Google and Microsoft also use a combination of automated scanning and manual review to detect CSAM.

What are Adobe's changes?
There are four changes to the terms of service, with the first two appearing in sections 2.2 and 4.1. In section 4.1, Adobe states, "we reserve the right (but do not have the obligation) to remove Content or restrict access to Content, Services, and Software if any of your Content is found to be in violation of the Terms."

Additionally, section 14.1 reduces the time a user has to file a formal dispute from 60 days to 30 days. Section 5.3 now allows Adobe to delete content from inactive accounts. While Adobe says it will attempt to notify inactive accounts to avoid deletion, it does not specify how long an account must be inactive before deletion occurs.

The first two changes have sparked outrage in the creative community, highlighting the classic privacy versus security dilemma.

The language appears to target only files uploaded to Adobe Cloud as part of Adobe services.

Why are people angry about Adobe's new terms of service?
The answer is straightforward. Adobe's broad, far-reaching language could potentially allow the company to scan, view, and review any content passing through an Adobe app or Adobe Cloud servers. This has irked creators, many of whom use Adobe products for sensitive professional work.

One example is NDA work, where content is protected by a nondisclosure agreement. Creators sign such agreements with the expectation that the files will remain confidential until the agreement expires. Naturally, these individuals don't want Adobe viewing content they aren't authorized to disclose.

Additionally, creatives who have tried to address the issue have faced resistance from Adobe. Conceptual artist Sam Santala posted on X about his experience of being unable to speak with an Adobe customer service representative, cancel his subscription, or even uninstall Photoshop without first agreeing to the new terms of service.

Adobe responds with clarification
The terms of service update occurred on Feb. 17. Adobe's terms of service webpage indicates it was last updated and became effective on that date. When users were notified about the change, or first noticed it, is unclear, though complaints have surged recently.

However, The Register notes that Adobe has used similar language for years, so while the wording may now be more explicit and unsettling, it is not fundamentally different from before.

Adobe also states that it only scans files on its cloud service, not on users' PCs. According to Adobe, "Adobe performs content analysis only on content processed or stored on Adobe's servers; we don't analyze content processed or stored locally on your device." That language remains unchanged.

In response to inquiries, Adobe directed us to a June 6 blog post further clarifying its stance.