When "Perpetual, Irrevocable" Terms Meet User Backlash

ElevenLabs built the most convincing voice cloning technology in the world—and promptly faced every ethical controversy that implies. AI-generated Biden robocalls discouraging voting, celebrity deepfakes spreading hateful messages on 4chan, voice actors discovering their voices were used without consent, and Terms of Service granting ElevenLabs "perpetual, irrevocable" rights to user voice data. The company is now navigating what happens when powerful technology meets inadequate governance.

The February 2025 Terms of Service update, which granted ElevenLabs a "perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license" to use voice recordings, triggered swift backlash. According to Kukarella, one partner publicly ended its relationship citing "unacceptable terms" and immediately transitioned to a new provider.

The Deepfake Incidents

ElevenLabs has been implicated in multiple high-profile misuse cases:

• Biden Robocalls (January 2024): AI-generated calls purporting to be President Biden encouraged New Hampshire voters to skip the primary. Audio experts confirmed the calls were made using ElevenLabs technology

• 4chan Celebrity Abuse: Users generated controversial statements in the vocal style of celebrities and public officials, sharing hateful messages using cloned voices

• Political Manipulation: The platform's ability to replicate real voices raised concerns about election interference and misinformation campaigns

"ElevenLabs was criticized after users were able to abuse its software to generate controversial statements in the vocal style of celebrities, public officials, and other famous individuals, particularly attracting attention after users on 4chan used the tool to share hateful messages." — Wikipedia

The Terms of Service Controversy

The February 2025 update sparked industry concern according to Kukarella's analysis:

• Perpetual License: Even if users deleted their accounts, ElevenLabs could "potentially continue using the technology created from their voice indefinitely"

• Irrevocable Rights: No mechanism for users to reclaim control of voice models created from their recordings

• Royalty-Free: No compensation for ongoing commercial use of user-derived voice technology

• Partner Exodus: Kukarella publicly announced abandoning ElevenLabs for a "privacy-first provider"

The Training Data Ethics Problem

Beyond user-generated content, ElevenLabs faces questions about its foundation:

• Unconsented Samples: Multiple voice actors claim ElevenLabs used samples of their voices without consent

• Professional Voices: The quality of ElevenLabs' technology raises questions about whose voices trained their models

• Provenance Questions: Like image generation AI, voice cloning faces scrutiny over training data sourcing

"Additional concerns have been raised over the ethics of the source of ElevenLabs' training data, with multiple voice actors saying that ElevenLabs used samples of their voices without their consent." — Wikipedia

Safeguards Implemented

ElevenLabs has introduced protections according to their safety documentation:

• No-Go Voices: Safeguard detecting and preventing creation of specific voice clones, particularly political figures in US and UK elections

• Prohibited Use Policy: Bans unauthorized impersonation, deceptive deepfakes, political manipulation, and harmful uses

• Terms Enforcement: Existing terms already prohibit using the platform to impersonate or harm others

• Detection Tools: Working on technology to identify ElevenLabs-generated audio

The Regulatory Landscape

Voice cloning faces increasing legal scrutiny:

• EU AI Act Article 50: AI-generated audio and video must be clearly labeled as such, with full deepfake labeling obligations due August 2026

• State Laws: Various US states have enacted or proposed voice cloning consent requirements

• Election Protection: FCC and state officials investigating AI-generated election interference

• Platform Liability: Questions remain about whether platforms like ElevenLabs bear responsibility for user misuse

The Consent Question

According to legal analysis, legitimate voice cloning requires:

• Explicit Consent: Clear permission from the voice owner for cloning

• Defined Scope: Limitations on how the cloned voice can be used

• Right to Withdraw: Ability to revoke consent and have voice models deleted

• Commercial Terms: Compensation agreements if voice is used commercially

The Business Reality

Despite controversies, ElevenLabs continues growing:

• Market Leadership: Remains the most capable voice cloning platform available

• Enterprise Adoption: Legitimate use cases in accessibility, content creation, and localization

• Conversational AI: According to CMSWire, the company is betting on conversational AI as its growth vector

• Competition Pressure: Big Tech competitors are developing similar capabilities

The Bottom Line

ElevenLabs built technology that's simultaneously transformative and dangerous. The same capabilities that enable accessibility for the disabled and efficient content localization also enable election interference and celebrity impersonation. The company's response—safeguards for political figures, prohibited use policies, detection tools—addresses symptoms without solving the fundamental tension.

As EU AI Act labeling requirements approach in August 2026 and voice actors pursue legal action, ElevenLabs faces a choice: accept significant constraints on how its technology can be used, or continue navigating an endless series of scandals. The perpetual license controversy suggests the company's instincts lean toward maximizing data rights rather than user protection—a posture that may not survive increased regulatory scrutiny.