Last week, we ended our partnership with ElevenLabs due to concerning updates in their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. On February 28, 2025, ElevenLabs updated their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy with significant changes that raise serious concerns about data ownership, privacy, and usage rights. After a thorough review, we've determined these new terms create unacceptable risks for our users and don't align with our commitment to protecting your digital identity.
Just days after our decision, ElevenLabs announced a major collaboration with Google Cloud, confirming our privacy concerns.
Real Privacy Concerns, Not Science Fiction
These concerns aren't theoretical. Consider these potential scenarios:
Imagine a few years from now: You're on a call with your bank, and their voice authentication system flags your voice as "potentially fraudulent." Why? Because your unique voice patterns, once processed through ElevenLabs and now integrated into Google's voice recognition systems, have been used to train fraud detection algorithms that you never consented to.
Or picture this: Receiving a call from what sounds exactly like a loved one requesting an urgent money transfer. The scammer didn't need to record their voice - they simply used a voice model built from data that was shared through the ElevenLabs-Google partnership.
These aren't science fiction scenarios. They're potential realities when your biometric voice data becomes part of vast corporate AI systems with "perpetual, irrevocable" rights to use it however they want. And with each additional partner and vendor who gains access to this data, the risk of leaks or breaches increases significantly. The more widely your voice data is shared across corporate ecosystems, the more vulnerable it becomes.
Why This Partnership Matters For Your Voice Privacy
Your voice is biometric data - a unique part of your identity. The ElevenLabs-Google partnership creates a situation where:
- Voice data can now be processed through Google Cloud's global infrastructure
- The "perpetual, irrevocable license" in ElevenLabs' new terms potentially extends to this expanded ecosystem
- Voice models could be integrated with Google's AI capabilities and Gemini 2.0 Flash model
- Users have limited control over how their voice data may ultimately be used
Our Swift Action for Your Safety
We've acted quickly to protect your digital identity by transitioning to a safer, privacy-first voice cloning provider that offers:
- Full ownership and control of your voice data.
- Clear and genuine data deletion policies.
- Superior voice quality with advanced emotion, style, and customization features.
Your Voice Clones Are Now More Secure Than Ever
Here's what we've done:
- Permanently deleted all ElevenLabs voice data from our systems.
- Implemented advanced voice cloning technology with strong privacy guarantees.
How to Start Creating New, Safe Voice Clones:
- Navigate to Clone Voice in Kukarella's main menu.
- Select Create New Voice.
- Upload or record your voice directly.
- Enjoy new customization features like emotional styles (professional, friendly, excited), pitch, speed, volume adjustments, and enhanced sound effects.
We Stand Firmly By Our Decision
The recent announcement of ElevenLabs' integration with Google Cloud proves our concerns were valid. Your privacy and digital rights deserve protection, and we're committed to ensuring your voice stays exclusively yours.
Need Help? We're Here!
- Email us: support@kukarella.com
- Live Chat: Available directly within our app
Your voice is uniquely yours. Kukarella is dedicated to keeping it safe.
Thank you for trusting us with your voice and your privacy.
*Key Issues with ElevenLabs' New Terms
Here's a detailed breakdown of the concerning changes in ElevenLabs' February 2025 update that led to our decision:
1. Perpetual Control Over Your Voice Data
- The Perpetual License: Users now grant ElevenLabs a "perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license" to use voice recordings
- The Fine Print: While ElevenLabs states they'll delete raw recordings after 3 years of inactivity, they retain perpetual rights to use any models or derivatives created from those recordings
- What This Means: Even if you delete your account or request data removal, ElevenLabs can continue using technology derived from your voice indefinitely
2. Restrictive Commercial Usage Terms
- Free Plan Limitations: Free plans are now explicitly restricted to non-commercial purposes only
- Downgrade Consequences: If you created voices on a paid plan and later downgrade, you now lose commercial usage rights for those previously created voices
- What This Means: Your ability to use voice clones for commercial projects could be unexpectedly limited
3. Extensive Data Sharing Practices
- Broader Sharing Network: Personal data, including voice recordings, may now be shared with ElevenLabs' affiliates and vendors
- Global Data Transfer: Voice data is now transferred and processed across multiple jurisdictions (US, Netherlands, Singapore)
- What This Means: Your voice data could be subject to different privacy standards depending on where it's processed
4. Biometric Data Concerns
- Voice as Biometric Data: Voice recordings may now be categorized as biometric information in some regions
- Extended Retention: ElevenLabs now states they will retain raw voice data for up to 3 years after last interaction
- Perpetual Model Rights: While the raw data may eventually be deleted, the license for using models trained on that data has no expiration
- What This Means: Your uniquely identifying voice characteristics could be retained in ElevenLabs' systems long after you've stopped using their service
5. Limited Legal Recourse
- Binding Arbitration: The updated terms now include binding arbitration provisions
- Class Action Waiver: Users waive rights to participate in class action lawsuits
- What This Means: Your ability to seek legal remedies for potential misuse of your voice data is significantly restricted