The Automattic “AI” thing  🔗 **Source:** [The Automattic “AI” thing](https://tante.cc/2024/02/27/the-automattic-ai-thing/) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: > - WordPress > - Automattic > - AIDataScraping > - TrustIssues > - UserGeneratedContent > Author: [Tante] > Source: [Mastodon Post, Blog Entry] > Reference: [Page Link to Mastodon Post] > date created: 2024-09-10 15:30 > > # Title: Automattic's Decision to Sell User Data: A Breach of Trust? > <!-- deep-read:sections start --> ## Table of Contents: - [Summary](#summary) - [Main Content](#main-content) - [Introduction to the Issue](#introduction-to-the-issue) - [Opt-out System Raises Concerns](#opt-out-system-raises-concerns) - [The Harm of the AI Hype](#the-harm-of-the-ai-hype) - [Impact on WordPress Open Source](#impact-on-wordpress-open-source) - [Automattic's Shady Approach](#automattics-shady-approach) - [Notes](#notes) - [References](#references) - [Paraphrase](#paraphrase) - [Newsletter](#newsletter) - [Action Items](#action-items) - [Hypotheses](#hypotheses) - [Methodology](#methodology) - [Questions](#questions) - [Future Research](#future-research) - [Implications](#implications) - [Logical Validity](#logical-validity) - [Conclusion](#conclusion) ### References: - [Mastodon Post](https://tldr.nettime.org/@tante/112004861936954526) - [Automattic Privacy Policy](https://automattic.com/privacy/) ## 📝 Summary: Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and Tumblr, is planning to sell user-generated data to AI companies like OpenAI and Midjourney. This decision has sparked outrage as it breaches user trust and shifts WordPress’ focus from user empowerment to commodification of content. The “opt-out” nature of this move raises further ethical concerns, reflecting the pervasive "AI hype" that is steering tech companies toward monetizing user contributions. Many worry that this could also harm the WordPress open-source ecosystem, which has long championed user autonomy and creative freedom. ## 📖 Main Content: ### Introduction to the Issue - Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com and Tumblr, is in talks to sell user-generated data to AI companies like OpenAI and Midjourney. - This applies primarily to hosted WordPress.com users, while self-hosted instances (using Automattic’s plugins like Jetpack) are currently unaffected. ### Opt-out System Raises Concerns - Automattic has opted for an “opt-out” system, meaning users need to actively reject the sale of their content. - This move is seen as a violation of trust, akin to how companies like Meta treat their users, leading many to question Automattic’s ethics. - Automattic, once viewed as a “good” company in the tech world, is now revealing its pursuit of AI-driven profit over user respect. ### The Harm of the AI Hype - The article critiques how the AI hype has eroded the original mission of platforms like WordPress, turning user-generated content into mere "data sludge." - Tools like “AI writing assistants” introduced by WordPress underscore the shift from empowering users to treating their work as training fodder for machine learning models. - The core argument is that WordPress no longer prioritizes creativity and human expression, reducing user contributions to exploitable data. ### Impact on WordPress Open Source - Automattic’s decision could damage the WordPress brand and affect the larger open-source project. - WordPress has long been a user-friendly tool enabling writers and creators to own their platforms, standing apart from proprietary platforms like Medium or Substack. - The article warns that damaging the trust in WordPress could drive users back to closed platforms, undermining the open-source web. ### Automattic's Shady Approach - Automattic's lack of transparency and secretive decision-making reveal its disregard for user trust and respect. - Rather than introducing an opt-in system or communicating openly, Automattic chose to quietly work on data deals with Microsoft/OpenAI, prioritizing profit over its community. - The call for a possible fork of WordPress reflects the need for governance that truly values user autonomy and creative freedom. ## 🗒️ Notes: - Automattic’s data-sharing decision is seen as a breach of user trust. - The “opt-out” nature of the feature raises significant ethical questions. - AI hype is critiqued for reducing user-generated content to training material for AI systems. - Concerns are raised about how this could damage the open-source WordPress ecosystem. - Automattic's secretive approach suggests a shift in values, prioritizing profit over user empowerment. ## 📖 References: - Mastodon Post by @tante - Automattic Privacy Policy ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. Automattic is preparing to sell user-generated content from WordPress.com and Tumblr to AI companies like OpenAI and Midjourney, allowing these corporations to exploit user contributions. The real issue is that this is being done through an opt-out system, suggesting that users' trust and agency are not priorities for Automattic. 2. The AI hype has caused platforms like WordPress to abandon their original mission of empowering creators. Instead, they now view user content as mere data to feed into AI models. This commodification of human creativity undermines the fundamental principles that once set WordPress apart from proprietary platforms. ## 📰 Newsletter: 📢 **WordPress Trust Breach? Automattic to Sell User Data to AI Companies** It’s hard to believe, but Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and Tumblr, is gearing up to sell user-generated data to AI firms like OpenAI and Midjourney. While self-hosted WordPress sites are safe for now, this breach of trust leaves many questioning Automattic's commitment to its users. The opt-out nature of this move has drawn sharp criticism, as it shows little regard for those who helped build the platform’s success. Stay tuned as this story unfolds and let us know how this affects your approach to web publishing! 💬 Read more about this developing story [here](#). ## ✅ Action Items: This article aligns closely with my professional focus on open-source advocacy, transparency, and contributor respect. Automattic’s decision to sell user data without transparent communication strikes at the heart of user empowerment—an issue central to WordPress' role in the open-source web. The article also touches on sustainability, noting that damaging trust in WordPress could lead to long-term harm for the open-source ecosystem. It’s a critical moment for re-evaluating WordPress governance, which directly connects to my aspiration to become an OSPO director and improve how open-source projects balance user respect with growth. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: - If Automattic continues with this practice, there will be a significant decline in trust within the WordPress community, potentially leading to users leaving the platform. - The lack of transparency in data-sharing practices will prompt more WordPress forks or alternative open-source publishing platforms to emerge. ### 📊 Methodology: - Conduct surveys and community polls within the WordPress ecosystem to gauge trust levels before and after Automattic’s announcement. - Analyze the impact of opt-out policies on user retention rates, focusing on trust erosion and migration to alternative platforms. ### ❓ Questions: - What legal frameworks govern the sale of user-generated data in platforms like WordPress and Tumblr? - How will Automattic’s decision affect the broader open-source publishing landscape? ### 🔮 Future Research: - Explore the potential consequences of large-scale data-sharing practices on open-source communities. - Investigate how alternative open-source platforms could provide more user-respecting models for content publishing. ### 💡 Implications: If Automattic’s decision significantly harms trust, it could lead to a major shift in how open-source communities and platforms handle user data. The erosion of trust could also fuel the rise of new open-source alternatives that place a greater emphasis on user autonomy, transparency, and consent-driven policies. ### ✅ Logical Validity: The article makes a strong case that Automattic’s decision to sell user data represents a breach of trust. The argument is well-supported, particularly in its critique of the opt-out system, which prioritizes profit over user empowerment. The logical flow from Automattic’s actions to the potential harm for the WordPress community is sound. However, more data on the scale of the issue (e.g., how many users are aware of the policy) could strengthen the argument. **Positive Reasoning Identified**: - **Causal Reasoning**: The link between Automattic’s decisions and the potential erosion of trust in the WordPress community is well-established. - **Ethical Reasoning**: The author highlights the ethical concerns surrounding data exploitation without user consent, emphasizing user rights and respect. ### 🎯 Conclusion: Automattic’s decision to sell user-generated content to AI companies has sparked an important conversation about trust, transparency, and the future of open-source platforms like WordPress. As Automattic shifts toward a more profit-driven model, it risks alienating its core user base and harming the broader open-source ecosystem. The article raises valid concerns about the ethics of data exploitation and the need for transparent governance. <!-- deep-read:sections end --> 📄 **Full text:** ![[Full Document Contents/Articles/The Automattic “AI” thing|The Automattic “AI” thing, tante]] ## Highlights - So Automattic, the company financing the development of the Open Source WordPress blogging platform (which this site and a huge part of the Internet runs on) is in talks to [sell user generated data to Midjourney and OpenAI](https://www.404media.co/tumblr-and-wordpress-to-sell-users-data-to-train-ai-tools/). This only applies to users/customers of their hosted WordPress.com offering and Tumblr, a struggling social media platform they bought a while ago. (So your own instance is in the clear for now – until you realize that these companies are scraping the web anyways so your writing or drawing or whatever is in their training set). ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j7fan5ksmhzttt6f34d39er3))