Xianyu faces backlash after AI posts users' images without consent

Alibaba-backed secondhand marketplace Xianyu is facing backlash from users after its new AI-powered feature reportedly converted personal photos — including images of museum relics and pets — into live listings without explicit consent.

The controversy erupted on May 30 after a user in Jiangsu province, surnamed Gu, posted on social media that her account had automatically listed a photo of a Tang Dynasty gilt silver pot — a national treasure housed at the Shaanxi History Museum — for 6,000 yuan ($886.9). The listing included an AI-generated sales description, according to Shangyou News.

Gu told media that she initially suspected unauthorized access to her private photo album. Xianyu customer service later explained that the image had been uploaded to a new section called "Xianyu Space", which triggers automatic listing. Gu said the process lacks secondary confirmation prompts.

The incident appears part of a broader pattern. Users on Gu's post shared their experiences — their pet photos, casual snapshots, and other personal images were similarly listed without consent, raising privacy concerns and, in some cases, fears of illegal cultural relic trade.

Media testing the platform confirmed that uploading images of museum artifacts to "Xianyu Space" triggered immediate recognition, pricing, and posting, often with AI-generated descriptions containing factual inaccuracies.

On May 31, Xianyu told the Shangyou News that "Xianyu Space" was designed to help users sell more idle items by bypassing the platform's daily limit of 50 manual posts.

"We launched the feature to broaden publishing channels for our users," Xianyu said. However, they recognized that the platform failed to provide clear prompts that photos uploaded to this space would be listed as commodities, the company said.

The company's customer service apologized for the listing made in error and pledged to optimize the feature based on user feedback.

Xianyu later stressed its adherence to legal protections for cultural relics. The platform said it now integrates with the National Cultural Heritage Administration's database of stolen or lost artifacts to prevent prohibited listings.

Additionally, Xianyu said they have increased posting safeguards for high-sensitivity categories, requiring users to confirm possession of valid source credentials before listing items.

The incident highlights the challenges e-commerce platforms face as AI tools increasingly automate listing and pricing functions while navigating privacy, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance risks.