What did the service want with its users’ files?

The WETRANSFER file transfer service has discreetly modified its conditions of use. Meanwhile, agreeing a very wide license on the files of its users. In addition, Faced with the controversy and protests, the company quickly retropped.

For a few hours, this Monday, July 15, 2025, the canvas and social networks ignited about Wetransfer. Consequently, In question: an update general conditions of use of the famous file transfer service via the Internet. Therefore, In a clause. Nevertheless, the Dutch service indicated that any file filed on its servers could be used “To develop, market and improve service or new technologies or services, including to improve the performance of automatic learning models “. Meanwhile, In other words: to feed an AI tool. For example, A mention sufficiently explicit to trigger a digital storm.

The change, dated June 23 but what did service want its identified massively on July 15, did not go unnoticed. Furthermore, On X (ex-Twitter), screenshots of the disputed clause circulated at high speed. Moreover, The formulation specified that the users granted Wetransfer “A perpetual. In addition, global, non-exclusive license, without fees, transferable and which can be subject to subliviums “. Nevertheless, This license included in particular the right to “Reproduce. distribute, modify” The contents and to take advantage of it, without any compensation for the authors. A shock for many users. and in particular professionals, creative or journalists, who regularly employ this service to share sensitive or unprecedented content.

Wetransfer controversy: a funny reverse

Faced with indignation, Wetransfer reacted in the afternoon. In a message transmitted to several writing. the platform assured that it did not use artificial intelligence to process the files transferred by its users. She recognizes that the previous formulation “Landed confusing” And announce having withdrawn any mention from automatic learning. Clause 6.3 is now formulated as follows: “You give us a free license allowing us to use your content in order to operate. develop and improve the service, in accordance with our privacy and cookie policy.” A clarification which aims to be reassuring, but which does not raise all questions.

If Wetransfer claims not to lead to AI from user files, it still retains a very wide operating license, including in Europe. However, the RGPD requirements in terms of consent and purpose could make certain practices problematic. The company tries to justify itself by evoking the improvement of the moderation of illicit content. The use of artificial intelligence, in this context, would be used to strengthen automatic detection of illegal files. A defensive use, therefore, and not commercial. However, at no time under the initial conditions of use, this distinction was clearly formulated.

This type of clause, ambiguous and extended, is not new in the digital ecosystem. X (ex-Twitter). Meta have also tried to give themselves very broad rights on user data to train their AI models. In what did service want its these cases, legal or media pressure has often forced these companies to review their claims. The fact remains that these incidents show how the service clauses. often read diagonally or ignored, can become weapons of massive capture of personal or professional content. And this, under the guise of a simple update of the conditions.

What did service want its

Wetransfer controversy: competition benefits

In this climate of growing mistrust. some services are trying to stand out. This is the case of Smash, a French file transfer platform. Taking advantage of the controversy. she has published a statement to reaffirm her policy: “Unlike Wetransfer, we do not explore, do not analyze or use the files transferred for commercial or technological purposes.” Users keep all rights over their files, without condition. The message is clear, and it directly targets the confusion caused by Wetransfer.

Other what did service want its alternatives such as Swiss Transfer. Pcloud Transfer have also been cited in discussions on networks, carried by a simple promise: your files will not be used for something other than their transfer. This guarantee. at a time when the border between service rendered and commercial exploitation is increasingly blurring, becomes a central argument. Wetransfer, despite his return, may not have managed to completely dispel doubt. In a context where each clause can hide an economic model, vigilance remains in order.