Zoom’s latest privacy storm has cast a spotlight on the fine print that often goes unnoticed, but holds the key to how our data is used. Hidden within the labyrinthine terms of use lies a clause that grants the company the power to use customer data for artificial intelligence (AI) training, without an opt-out option.

The language used by Zoom might seem innocuous at first glance, mentioning data access and usage for various purposes, including AI training. Experts point out that this references “service-generated data,” leaving room for interpretation. However, a bolded assertion buried in the fine print claims that “audio, video, or chat content” won’t be used without customer consent.

The catch is, that consent is effectively given by the mere act of using Zoom, with most users breezing past terms and conditions. As AI becomes integral to our online experiences, questions about data privacy and the ways it’s harnessed for learning have surged. Lawsuits have even cropped up from creators who feel their content is being reimagined in AI outputs.

Zoom’s foray into AI isn’t new. The company recently introduced generative AI features for meeting summaries and chat messages. However, enabling these tools triggers a consent form, which if accepted, gives Zoom permission to feed its AI models with individual customer data. It’s a classic case of “agree or leave,” with no middle ground.

This raises both reputational and legal concerns for Zoom. In the EU, data protection laws like GDPR and ePrivacy could come into play. The latter now covers services like Zoom, and Article 5 states a firm “consent of the user” is required for data interception or storage.

While Zoom’s privacy policy might seem like a tangled web of legalese, the fundamental issue is clear: how much control should individuals have over their data when it’s being used to train AI? As AI continues to transform our digital landscape, the conversation around user consent and data privacy only intensifies.