Amid growing scrutiny over how tech platforms engage with artificial intelligence, SoundCloud has responded to public concern following the discovery of a controversial clause in its Terms of Use. The clause, reportedly added in February 2024, suggested that user-uploaded content could be used to “inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies” unless a separate agreement states otherwise — effectively raising alarm among artists and rights advocates.
The backlash gained momentum after Futurism reported on the clause, prompting widespread discussion about AI ethics in creative spaces. In a statement shared with Pitchfork and The Verge, SoundCloud sought to clarify the intent behind the clause, insisting that the platform has never used artist content to train AI models and does not allow scraping or third-party access for that purpose.
On Wednesday, 14 May SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton shared a letter addressing the controversy. In the letter, Eliah clarifies that SoundCloud has never used content from artists to train AI. He explained; “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. Period. 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.” 
He also acknowledged that the language which was used in the Terms of Use (TOU) update last year was too broad, and provided a three step action plan as to how they’re going about amending their TOU. Eliah revealed; “the language in the Terms of Use was too broad and wasn’t clear enough. It created confusion, and that’s on us. That’s why we’re fixing it.”
The letter also clarifies that the purpose behind the TOU update was to clarify how AI operates within the platform itself — in cases such as personalised recommendations, content discovery, fraud detection and better content identification. It emphasised that tools like Musiio, which was acquired by SoundCloud in 2022, are employed solely for artist discovery and organizational functions, not for developing generative AI.
In an effort to reassure its creator community, SoundCloud pointed to technical safeguards already in place — including a “no AI” tag — and promised that artists retain control over their content. While not completely ruling out future applications of AI, the platform stated that any such development would include explicit opt-in consent.
As debates over AI and intellectual property continue to unfold, SoundCloud now finds itself at the center of a broader industry reckoning, one where trust, accountability, consent and transparency are becoming just as crucial as innovation and growth. The letter concluded with Eliah thanking artists for holding SoundCloud accountable, and affirms their commitment to transparency. He said; “We’re going to keep showing up with transparency. We’re going to keep listening. And we’re going to make sure you’re informed and involved every step of the way. Thanks for being a part of the SoundCloud community and for holding us accountable to the values we all share.”
