AI training over data privacy: Microsoft and Zoom get caught

The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) is calling to abandon the video platform Zoom. The reason for this is the sneaky tweaks in user agreements surrounding the use of data to train AI. It seems to be the beginning of a slight trend since Microsoft is also guilty of the same facts.

SFC is asking all open-source developers to boycott Zoom and is helping users switch to an alternative. The video platform came into disrepute last week due to changes in its terms of service. It seemed Zoom tried to get more user data into its training model for AI.

Confusing wording in the agreement made it appear that the video platform placed little value on users’ consent to train AI with their data. Even without consent, data would still end up in the training set.