I recently had a conversation with an Adobe support representative, who advised against using InDesign for handling confidential information. The concern stems from the fact that images placed in an InDesign document get uploaded to Adobe's Firefly service for processing, which generates Alt-Text. I'm worried that the images might be used to train Firefly's image generation service, potentially exposing our client's confidential or concept art data. I also haven't received clear confirmation from Adobe on whether our images are safe from being used publicly. Unfortunately, it seems there's no way to remotely disable this feature on Windows and Mac, so we're manually disabling it for everyone, along with Photoshop and Illustrator. If anyone has registry keys or profiles to make this easier, it would be a huge help!
5 Answers
I spoke with our customer support regarding this last week. The reps seemed either uninformed or dismissive, which is worrying since we also handle sensitive data. They couldn't provide any solid documentation or connect us with security experts, so we flagged this in our compliance report. It's going to become a significant issue for them, and I've made sure to keep records of everything for future reference.
Yes! Having that information ready to show proves you've done your due diligence when the time comes.
This is a major issue regarding data security. It's shocking that Adobe's answer is essentially 'don’t use our product for sensitive info.' If you're unable to find registry keys or MDM profiles to disable this, consider blocking Firefly endpoints on your network as a temporary measure. If you have firewalls or web filtering that supports SSL inspection, blocking outbound traffic to firefly.adobe.com could centralize control without having to change settings on every device. It's prudent to investigate what other software might also be logging user data silently, especially if your clients are in regulated sectors. Document Adobe’s feedback for your compliance team; it might be crucial later.
Totally agree! I did a compliance review of Adobe's practices not long ago, and it didn't go well. The moment management found out, they pushed back hard against my report!
That's a smart strategy! Many vendors are incorporating AI features nowadays and it’s important to audit for compliance risk in that regard.
If you have an enterprise license, Adobe can disable this feature on their end for you. We have that setup and it’s been a relief not to worry about these features activating with our users.
You can find instructions on how to disable this feature in this link: [Learn How to Stop Auto Alt Text](https://www.reddit.com/r/indesign/comments/1qq4vx7/how_do_i_stop_auto_alt_text_on_placed_images/). Just be aware that users have reported mixed results, with some finding the setting re-enabled by default after opting out!
Yeah, I've seen mixed results too. It can be frustrating when you think you're opted out but the system defaults to the opposite.
It's like they don't want us to get away from AI features. Definitely keep an eye on that!
Have you thought about reaching out to tech news channels? They might have closer contacts that could help dig into this issue. It sounds like a big story if confirmed.
Sounds frustrating! Keeping documentation is key. It's a shame businesses often ignore these risks until they blow up in their face.