WeTransfer: Difference between revisions
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{{InfoboxCompany | {{InfoboxCompany | ||
| Name = {{PAGENAME}} | | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | ||
| Type =Private | | Type = Private | ||
| Founded =2009 | | Founded = 2009 | ||
| Industry =Software | | Industry = Software | ||
| Official Website =https://www.wetransfer.com | | Official Website = https://www.wetransfer.com | ||
| Logo =WeTransfer logo.svg.png | | Logo = WeTransfer logo.svg.png | ||
}}[[wikipedia:WeTransfer|'''WeTransfer''']] is a cloud-based file transfer service that allows users to upload files through their website and then either gives them a link directly or to send an e-mail to the recipient with a download link. If sent through e-mail, the sender could be notified when their files were downloaded. | }}[[wikipedia:WeTransfer|'''WeTransfer''']] is a cloud-based file transfer service that allows users to upload files through their website and then either gives them a link directly or to send an e-mail to the recipient with a download link. If sent through e-mail, the sender could be notified when their files were downloaded. | ||
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This can be circumvented by putting the files to be sent into a ZIP file protected by a strong password first before uploading the file and then sending the passwort through an unrelated channel, such as a messenger chat. | This can be circumvented by putting the files to be sent into a ZIP file protected by a strong password first before uploading the file and then sending the passwort through an unrelated channel, such as a messenger chat. | ||
==Incidents<!-- All of this needs more sources -->== | ==Incidents<!--All of this needs more sources-->== | ||
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | ||
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===Data Breach (2019)=== | ===Data Breach (2019)=== | ||
Some files were sent to the wrong recipients.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Lawrence |date=2019-06-21 |title=WeTransfer Security Incident Sent Files to the Wrong People |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wetransfer-security-incident-sent-files-to-the-wrong-people/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034757/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wetransfer-security-incident-sent-files-to-the-wrong-people/ |archive-date=2020-11-12 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Bleeping Computer}}</ref> | Some files were sent to the wrong recipients.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Lawrence |date=2019-06-21 |title=WeTransfer Security Incident Sent Files to the Wrong People |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wetransfer-security-incident-sent-files-to-the-wrong-people/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034757/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wetransfer-security-incident-sent-files-to-the-wrong-people/ |archive-date=2020-11-12 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Bleeping Computer}}</ref> | ||
===Business Model Changes (''2024'')=== | ===Business Model Changes (''2024'')=== | ||
In 2024, Bending Spoons made changes that changed the business model for the worse. Uploads were no longer possible without registering an account, the number of transfers per month and the storage duration of the free tier were reduced significantly. | In 2024, Bending Spoons made changes that changed the business model for the worse. Uploads were no longer possible without registering an account, the number of transfers per month and the storage duration of the free tier were reduced significantly. | ||
=== Change in Terms of Service attempts to change ownership of uploaded files (2025) === | ===Change in Terms of Service attempts to change ownership of uploaded files (2025)=== | ||
In the new Terms of Service presented on June 23rd 2025, WeTransfer originally stated that they entitle themselves to "make a profit of the files uploaded by users", starting from the 8th of August 2025.<ref name=": | In the new Terms of Service presented on June 23rd 2025, WeTransfer originally stated that they entitle themselves to "make a profit of the files uploaded by users", starting from the 8th of August 2025.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Leijten |first=Jorg |date=15 Jul 2025 |title=WeTransfer krabbelt iets terug na ophef over overdragen eigendom op geüploade bestanden |trans-title=WeTransfer backs down their transfer of ownership after backlash |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/07/15/wetransfer-is-binnenkort-eigenaar-van-jouw-bestanden-en-wil-er-geld-aan-gaan-verdienen-a4900306 |access-date=15 Jul 2025 |website=NRC |language=nl}}</ref> This is in stark contrast with the Terms of Service from 2021, which states there is no right of ownership to the uploaded files.<ref name=":02" /> | ||
Further, the new Terms of Service sparked additional backlash, by the clause to "include the possibility of using AI to improve content moderation" on the uploaded files. WeTransfer updated this clause. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Rahman-Jones |first=Imran |date=15 Jul 2025 |title=WeTransfer says files not used to train AI after backlash |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8mp79gyz1o |access-date=15 Jul 2025 |work=BBC}}</ref><!-- The ToS situation is still too fresh to comment on it further --> | Further, the new Terms of Service sparked additional backlash, by the clause to "include the possibility of using AI to improve content moderation" on the uploaded files. WeTransfer updated this clause. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Rahman-Jones |first=Imran |date=15 Jul 2025 |title=WeTransfer says files not used to train AI after backlash |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8mp79gyz1o |access-date=15 Jul 2025 |work=BBC}}</ref> | ||
This was the text in section 6.3<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-23 |title=WeTransfer ToS |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715070346/https://wetransfer.com/explore/legal/terms |access-date=2025-07-15}}</ref>:<blockquote>"You hereby grant us a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable license to use your Content for the purposes of operating, developing, commercializing, and improving the Service or new technologies or services, including to improve performance of machine learning models that enhance our content moderation process, in accordance with the Privacy & Cookie Policy. Such license includes the right to reproduce, distribute, modify, prepare derivative works based upon, broadcast, communicate to the public, publicly display, and perform Content. You will not be entitled to compensation for any use of Content by us under these Terms."</blockquote>In date July 15th 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-15 |title=WeTransfer Tos |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716042846/https://wetransfer.com/explore/legal/terms |access-date=2025-07-16}}</ref> they rewrote the section to remove<!--[Needs confirmation]--> the content license/sublicense grant.<!--The ToS situation is still too fresh to comment on it further--> | |||
==Alternatives== | ==Alternatives== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | ||
[[Category:WeTransfer]] | [[Category:WeTransfer]] | ||
[[Category:Articles with verification concerns or other deficiencies]] | [[Category:Articles with verification concerns or other deficiencies]] | ||
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]] | [[Category:Articles in need of additional work]] | ||