iStock.com/stockcam
Reddit Reveals New Policies and AI Licensing Ventures
May 9, 2024
Reddit Inc. has unveiled fresh guidelines governing data on its platform, aiming to bolster its revenue streams through licensing deals with AI developers and other firms. These policies include prohibiting unsolicited advertisements to users and safeguarding against data misuse, such as violating intellectual property rights or sharing private information.
Chief Legal Officer Ben Lee emphasized the importance of clarifying these guidelines, addressing concerns that licensees might exploit Reddit’s data without restraint. Notably, Reddit has a $60 million licensing deal with Google, which focuses on training large language models for generative AI, and is in ongoing discussions with other AI companies.
“They can’t try to reverse-engineer our user’s identity. You can’t use it target ads. You can’t build a Reddit competitor, for example.”
Steve Huffman, Reddit CEO, via Bloomberg
CEO Steve Huffman underscored Reddit’s commitment to protecting user privacy, affirming that private data like messages or contact details won’t be shared with licensees. Despite Reddit’s public nature, the company remains steadfast in safeguarding user privacy while navigating its growing AI licensing endeavors.
“We’re not against using Reddit data to train AIs. We just want to do so on clear terms so that everybody knows what’s going on.”
Steve Huffman, Reddit CEO, via Bloomberg
Huffman acknowledged Reddit’s positive partnership with Google while expressing concerns about unauthorized data scraping and exploitation by other entities. Reddit seeks transparent terms for data usage, ensuring clarity for all involved parties.
Although Reddit’s AI licensing business is nascent, it’s showing promise. Huffman refrained from disclosing specifics but noted that agreements typically span two to three years, with terms covering aspects like search visibility and branding requirements.
As Reddit continues to navigate its evolving landscape, these policies signal a proactive stance toward data governance and responsible AI integration. With its AI licensing ventures projected to contribute significantly to revenue growth, Reddit aims to foster mutually beneficial partnerships while safeguarding user privacy and platform integrity.
Recent News
Massive Data Breach Hits Ticketmaster, Affecting 560 Million Customers
Ticketmaster has fallen victim to a significant cyber-attack, potentially compromising the data of up to 560 million customers. The breach was confirmed by Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which revealed that a notorious hacking group, ShinyHunters, is behind the attack. The hackers are demanding a ransom of approximately £400,000 to prevent the data from being sold on the dark web.
Toyota Recalls 100,000+ Tundra and Lexus LX SUVs Over Engine Debris Issue
Toyota has announced a recall for over 100,000 Tundra pickups and Lexus LX SUVs in North America due to potential engine issues caused by machining debris. This recall affects certain 2022-2023 models of the Tundra and LX, which are equipped with the new V6 twin-turbo engine. The V6 twin-turbo engine has faced considerable scrutiny regarding its reliability, especially when compared to the previous naturally aspirated V8 engines.
Wordle and Worldle Battle Over Names
A legal dispute has erupted between the wildly popular word game Wordle and the lesser-known geography game Worldle, centering on the similarity of their names. Wordle, which was developed by Josh Wardle in 2021 and later acquired by the New York Times in 2022 for a substantial sum, has gained immense popularity. In this game, players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word.
FDA Issues Recall for Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert regarding Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula and other infant formula products imported and distributed by Dairy Manufacturers Inc. The alert highlights Cronobacter contamination concerns with Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula. Although Dairy Manufacturers Inc. initiated a recall on May 24, 2024, due to non-compliance with FDA regulations, new findings of Cronobacter contamination have prompted further action.