VSCO Pledges Not to Train Generative AI on Member Photos

VSCO has rewritten its Creator Content Standards to state explicitly, as of November 12, that it will not use members' photographs — public or private — to train generative AI models, regardless of whether the account is free or paid.

The move addresses a concern that now sits alongside unauthorized reposts for working photographers who use social platforms as portfolios: images uploaded today can become tomorrow's training data for systems that generate lookalike work.

What did CEO Eric Wittman say?

In a message to photographers, CEO Eric Wittman said the revised Creator Content Standards clarify how VSCO handles user content and draw a distinction between the AI tools VSCO uses to support photographers and systems designed to generate new images or videos.

Wittman said VSCO does not use public or private user content to train generative AI models, and that the protection applies to all users, including those without paid memberships. That last point matters commercially: on many platforms, stronger content protections are tied to subscription tiers. VSCO has extended the restriction across its entire user base.

The pledge also reaches beyond VSCO's own infrastructure. According to the company, its external AI providers have agreed not to use content submitted through VSCO services to train generative AI models — extending the stated restriction to third parties supporting platform features.

Wittman acknowledged that the previous version of the Creator Content Standards used language too broad to make the company's position clear. The revision is intended to remove that ambiguity.

What about the AI VSCO already runs?

The announcement draws a firm line between generative AI and other forms of machine learning. VSCO says it uses machine learning and non-generative AI across its platform to help photographers find work, discover people, edit images, and use its services — tools distinct from generative systems trained to produce new photographs, videos, or other media.

The company did not provide a detailed breakdown of the specific machine learning systems or features covered by the announcement. Photographers who need the precise policy language should consult the updated Creator Content Standards directly — the announcement is a statement of position, and the standards remain the governing document for submitted work.

What does this change for photographers?

Practically, it changes the calculus for one publishing venue. VSCO framed the update as part of its commitment to photographers, with Wittman saying the company should help creators make a living from their work rather than treat their images as material for systems that generate new content.

The announcement lands amid growing debate over how creative work feeds generative AI development. Photographers and other artists have raised concerns about portfolios being collected and used to train models capable of producing images resembling their styles and subjects.

The gap to watch: VSCO's promise is a policy commitment, not a technical audit, and the company has not published details of how compliance with its external providers is verified. For photographers deciding where to publish, the question is no longer only how an image will be displayed, but what the platform is allowed to do with it after upload — and as other platforms face the same pressure, VSCO's explicit, account-wide language may become the benchmark against which competitors' terms are measured.