Birmingham Partner Beth Shirley was recently quoted in Bloomberg Law discussing how companies are facing growing scrutiny over the way they draft and communicate online terms of use and privacy policies. Once ignored by users, these legal documents are now under the spotlight as consumers worry about how their data may be used in artificial intelligence tools. Companies like Adobe, Zoom, and CapCut have faced backlash, and even litigation, over updates to their terms, forcing them to walk back changes or issue clarifications to protect their reputations.

Shirley noted this marks a clear shift for businesses. “It’s really a shift in the way companies use privacy policies and terms of use, whereas they have to be more transparent, have the mechanisms more user-friendly,” she said. While evolving laws play a role, Shirley emphasized consumer demand is the driving force: “That’s because the law has somewhat changed, but the main thing I see is that people are demanding it.”

The article highlights how companies are responding, from Adobe’s addition of plain-language summaries to CapCut and WeTransfer’s clarifying posts and pages. More organizations are also involving communications and marketing teams alongside lawyers to pressure-test messaging before policies go live. As Shirley explained, the challenge is balancing legal compliance with user trust in an era when consumers are reading and questioning terms more closely than ever.

Looking ahead, companies that embrace clarity and transparency will be best positioned to maintain user confidence and avoid reputational harm. Shirley’s perspective reinforces that compliance alone is no longer enough; clear, user-friendly communication is now a critical part of how businesses connect with consumers in the digital age.

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