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Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, May 11, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.

SoundCloud updated its Terms of Service in February 2024 to include language stating that users agree their content may be used to 'inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence' as part of providing the platform's services. Following public backlash in May 2025, SoundCloud's CEO issued a letter clarifying that no user content had been used to train generative AI models, and the company revised its terms to explicitly prohibit training generative AI on user content without opt-in consent.

Details

The February 2024 Terms update was discovered publicly in May 2025 by tech ethicist Ed Newton-Rex, triggering widespread concern among artists. SoundCloud stated the clause was intended to cover internal AI uses such as personalized recommendations, content organization, fraud detection, and content identification — not generative AI model training. In a May 14, 2025 CEO letter, SoundCloud revised its Terms to state: '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.' Any future use of content for generative AI model training would require an opt-in mechanism.

Products affected

SoundCloud platform (all users)

Sources & Evidence

Company Disclosure

A Letter from our CEO: Clarifying our Terms of Use

SoundCloud Newsroom·May 2025

https://press.soundcloud.com/249951-new-campaign-may-14-2025

News Article

SoundCloud addresses AI clause in terms of service, says it 'has never used artist content to train AI models'

Music Business Worldwide·May 2025

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/soundcloud-addresses-ai-clause-in-terms-of-service-says-it-has-never-used-artist-content-to-train-ai-models/

News Article

SoundCloud changes policies to allow AI training on user content

TechCrunch·May 2025

https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/09/soundcloud-changes-policies-to-allow-ai-training-on-user-content/

News Article

SoundCloud Quietly Updated Their Terms to Let AI Feast on Artists' Music

Futurism·May 2025

https://futurism.com/soundcloud-ai-terms-of-service

Cite this record

Trace Foundation. (2026). SoundCloud: SoundCloud updated its Terms of Service in February 2024 to include language stating that users agree their content may be used to 'inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence' as part of providing the platform's services. Following public backlash in May 2025, SoundCloud's CEO issued a letter clarifying that no user content had been used to train generative AI models, and the company revised its terms to explicitly prohibit training generative AI on user content without opt-in consent (data as of 2026-05-11) [Data set record]. AI Trace. https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/6f1b3f61-2a17-41cd-8df6-56da00e8366f. Accessed October 6, 2026.

Stable link: https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/6f1b3f61-2a17-41cd-8df6-56da00e8366f
Data as of: May 11, 2026
Last verified: Not recorded

How to cite AI Trace

Other practices by SoundCloud

RecommendationSoundCloud deployed an AI-driven autoplay and discovery feed that recommends music to listeners based on their listening history, genre preferences, and user activity. The system surfaces tracks in playlists, autoplay queues, and personalized feeds across the platform.RecommendationSoundCloud deployed an AI feature called First Fans that automatically recommends newly uploaded tracks to listeners most likely to enjoy them, even before a song has accumulated any plays. The feature is available to Artist and Artist Pro subscribers on the platform.OtherSoundCloud integrated DataDome's AI-powered bot and fraud detection platform to automatically identify and block fraudulent traffic, fake plays, fake account creation, and credential-stuffing attacks across its web, mobile, and API endpoints.

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