SoundCloud updates AI policy following backlash: “AI should support artists, not replace them”

1 June, 2025

SoundCloud

SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton has responded to backlash over the platform’s stance on AI as outlined in its Terms Of Use.

Earlier this month, Futurism reported that SoundCloud “quietly” updated its terms and conditions in February 2024 that would involve users “explicitly agreeing” by using the platform to having their content used to train AI.

The policy read: “You explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop, or serve as input to artificial intelligence technologies as part of and for providing the services.”

In response to the controversy on social media, Seton has clarified “how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundCloud’s own platform”.

“SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models. Not for music creation. Not for large language models. Not for anything that tries to mimic or replace your work,” he said.

“We don’t build generative AI tools, and we don’t allow third parties to scrape or use artist content from SoundCloud to train them either.”

“Our position is simple: AI should support artists, not replace them,” he added. “Any use of these tools on SoundCloud will continue to reflect that.”

Seton went on to explain the updates to the Terms Of Use last February were meant to clarify how “we may use AI internally” to improve SoundCloud for its users, including “powering smarter recommendations, search, playlisting, content tagging, and tools that help prevent fraud”.

SoundCloud has now changed its Terms Of Use, establishing that it will only use AI-training on content uploaded to the platform with users’ consent.

The new policy reads: “We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models that aim to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness without your explicit consent, which must be affirmatively provided through an opt-in mechanism.”

 

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