--- title: "Stable Video Diffusion | Ethical Stack" url: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/ catalog_version: f6baff2119d0e9158520da7fbe4232011dac79f25bd08757436d7a1dbd593db2 --- # Stable Video Diffusion Locally operated downloadable video model; the former hosted API was deprecated, while self-hosting remains documented. Canonical profile: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/ Scope: Stable Video Diffusion: local access. Weights are available for self-hosting under Stability Community or Enterprise terms; hosted API was deprecated July 24, 2025. Ratings describe the stated product, company or configuration in each finding. Published overall: 5; 6/6 dimensions rated. Round the equal-weight mean of available numerical ratings to one decimal; require at least four of six for an overall score. BDS status stays outside the mean; for eligible profiles, a boycott target caps the final score at 2/10 and a pressure target subtracts one point (minimum 1). Not listed and not checked do not adjust the score. ## Energy practices Finding: 4/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/#energy Stable Video Diffusion is now self-hosted after Stability retired its API. Official scripts expose frame count, resolution, and sampling-step choices; no environmental measurement is provided. Reason: 1 + 1 reporting + 0 electricity + 2 controls = 4/10. This grade covers documented practices and transparency; it does not measure the energy or emissions of a request. Argument: Stable Video Diffusion is now self-hosted after Stability retired its API. Official scripts expose frame count, resolution, and sampling-step choices; no environmental measurement is provided. The score describes documented measurement transparency and available controls, not environmental performance. Type: conditional; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): Stable Video Diffusion self-hosted deployment; Stability retired the hosted API in July 2025. Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: 2026-10-24 Unknowns: Electricity and water depend on the user’s selected hardware, location, and power source. The cited implementation and model materials do not measure joules, emissions, water, or quality-adjusted inference for an actual video. ```json { "method": "practices-transparency-v1", "scope": "Stable Video Diffusion self-hosted deployment; Stability retired the hosted API in July 2025.", "components": { "disclosure": { "score": 1, "reason": "Stability’s deployment guide and official sampler define the local model/runtime boundary and disclose that the hosted API was retired; no quantitative environmental report is provided.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://kb.stability.ai/knowledge-base/how-to-access-stable-video-diffusion", "https://github.com/Stability-AI/generative-models/blob/main/scripts/sampling/simple_video_sample.py" ] }, "electricity": { "score": 0, "reason": "The only current route in Stability’s access guide is self-hosting; the user selects the host and power source, so no company/provider electricity sourcing applies.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://kb.stability.ai/knowledge-base/how-to-access-stable-video-diffusion" ] }, "demand": { "score": 2, "reason": "Official scripts expose model variant, output frame count, resolution, sampling steps, and decode chunk size. This is a multi-control setup that can bound workload and fit hardware, but no reduction in physical energy per completed video has been measured.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://github.com/Stability-AI/generative-models/blob/main/scripts/sampling/simple_video_sample.py", "https://github.com/Stability-AI/generative-models/blob/main/scripts/demo/video_sampling.py" ] } }, "actualImpactMeasured": false, "meaning": "Documented environmental practices and transparency. Zero component points mean a reviewed evidence gap." } ``` - [How to Access Stable Video Diffusion](https://kb.stability.ai/knowledge-base/how-to-access-stable-video-diffusion) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [Stable Video Diffusion sampling script](https://github.com/Stability-AI/generative-models/blob/main/scripts/sampling/simple_video_sample.py) (official code repository; checked 2026-10-24) - [Stable Video Diffusion demo sampler](https://github.com/Stability-AI/generative-models/blob/main/scripts/demo/video_sampling.py) (official code repository; checked 2026-10-24) - [Stable Video Diffusion](https://stability.ai/stable-video) (primary; checked not recorded) ## Training data Finding: 3/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/#training-rights Stability’s paper describes staged image initialization, video pretraining and high-quality video fine-tuning, with dataset scale and processing details. It does not provide a complete source-license or creator-rights record. Reason: 1 + 2 source transparency + 0 permission + 0 creator controls = 3/10. This grades documented training-data safeguards, not a legal ruling. Argument: The technical paper is more informative about training stages than a general product page, but it does not establish permissions for the underlying web-video and inherited image data. A low score records that gap without alleging infringement. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): Stable Video Diffusion model family; includes its image-model initialization and video pretraining/fine-tuning stages. Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: 2023-11-21 Unknowns: The named source collection, applicable licenses, inheritance rights for the image backbone and creator controls are not established. ```json { "method": "training-rights-evidence-v1", "scope": "Stable Video Diffusion model family; includes its image-model initialization and video pretraining/fine-tuning stages.", "components": { "provenance": { "score": 2, "reason": "The paper discloses multiple stages and meaningful dataset/training details, while leaving a complete source recipe unavailable.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/research/stable-video-diffusion-scaling-latent-video-diffusion-models-to-large-datasets" ] }, "permissions": { "score": 0, "reason": "No affirmative dataset-level rights basis or compatibility review is documented in the paper.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/research/stable-video-diffusion-scaling-latent-video-diffusion-models-to-large-datasets" ] }, "creatorControls": { "score": 0, "reason": "No relevant rights-holder exclusion or remedy appears in the reviewed training paper.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/research/stable-video-diffusion-scaling-latent-video-diffusion-models-to-large-datasets" ] } }, "routeDependency": null, "modelReference": null, "meaning": "Documented training-data rights safeguards. Low points may reflect missing evidence; they do not establish infringement." } ``` - [Stable Video Diffusion research paper](https://stability.ai/research/stable-video-diffusion-scaling-latent-video-diffusion-models-to-large-datasets) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Your data & privacy Finding: 8/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/#privacy For a local offline setup, prompts and input images can remain on the operator’s machine; third-party hosting changes that boundary. Reason: This score applies only to local, offline use of the downloaded model. Network-connected plugins, cloud machines, and third-party interfaces are outside this configuration. Argument: This score applies only to local, offline use of the downloaded model. Network-connected plugins, cloud machines, and third-party interfaces are outside this configuration. Type: conditional; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): Selected configuration Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: This score applies only to local, offline use of the downloaded model. Network-connected plugins, cloud machines, and third-party interfaces are outside this configuration. - [How to Access Stable Video Diffusion](https://kb.stability.ai/knowledge-base/how-to-access-stable-video-diffusion) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Openness Finding: 6/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/#openness Stability provides downloadable weights and reference code for self-hosting under model-specific terms; hosted API access is discontinued. Reason: Local files and a paper provide some inspectability and control. License limits and missing full training-data details prevent a high openness rating. Argument: Local files and a paper provide some inspectability and control. License limits and missing full training-data details prevent a high openness rating. Type: evidence; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): Product Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Local files and a paper provide some inspectability and control. License limits and missing full training-data details prevent a high openness rating. - [Stability AI Core Models](https://stability.ai/core-models) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) - [How to Access Stable Video Diffusion](https://kb.stability.ai/knowledge-base/how-to-access-stable-video-diffusion) (primary; checked 2026-10-24) ## Worker protections Finding: 1/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/#labour Stability AI’s model card and license explain model access, deployment, and commercial licensing, but do not report worker pay, exposure protections, grievance routes, supplier coverage, or independent labor outcomes for training-data and moderation work. Reason: 1 + 0 pay & conditions + 0 worker voice & remedy + 0 evidence & follow-through = 1/10. This grades documented worker safeguards, not a measured rate of mistreatment. Argument: Stability AI’s model card and license explain model access, deployment, and commercial licensing, but do not report worker pay, exposure protections, grievance routes, supplier coverage, or independent labor outcomes for training-data and moderation work. Downloadable weights make downstream deployments distinct from the hosted service workforce. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (dimension): Stability AI's workforce and disclosed contractors. Coverage of individual product teams may be incomplete. Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Worker pay, exposure and health protections, paid versus volunteer roles, vendor/subcontractor coverage, grievance routes, and independent outcome checks are not established by the reviewed company license and a stability model card checked; neither is a workforce report, and open-weight downstream users are outside the hosted labor scope. ```json { "method": "worker-safeguards-evidence-v1", "entity": "stability", "company": "Stability AI", "scope": "Stability AI's workforce and disclosed contractors. Coverage of individual product teams may be incomplete.", "components": { "conditions": { "score": 0, "reason": "No opened source reports worker pay, hours, exposure protections, contractor coverage, or worker-level outcomes for Stability AI. The reviewed material is limited to Company license and a Stability model card checked; neither is a workforce report, and open-weight downstream users are outside the hosted labor scope.; its silence is an information gap, not evidence of poor conditions.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/license", "https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large" ] }, "voice": { "score": 0, "reason": "The reviewed material for Stability AI does not establish worker representation, grievance access, bargaining voice, or documented remedies. Public code contributions, customer controls, or creator rights do not demonstrate worker voice across employees and suppliers.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/license", "https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large" ] }, "assurance": { "score": 0, "reason": "No reviewed source provides an independent audit or corroborated worker-level outcomes for Stability AI’s relevant employees, contractors, and data-work suppliers. The available disclosures are company/project materials rather than independent labor verification.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/license", "https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large" ] } }, "disclosureLimited": true, "meaning": "This grades documented worker safeguards, not a measured rate of mistreatment." } ``` - [Stability AI License](https://stability.ai/license) (primary; checked not recorded) - [Stable Diffusion 3.5 model card](https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large) (model-card; checked 2026-10-24) ## Military ties Finding: 8/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/#military-contracts Stability AI’s AUP bans illegal or regulated weapons development and multiple harmful surveillance practices, including for community-licensed self-hosted weights, but it does not ban military or intelligence use generally. Reason: 7 base + 1 safeguard adjustment = 8/10 (4 of 9 safeguard points; every 3 adds 1). No military relationship was established in the cited sources. This ranks above known defense ties without claiming a verified clean record. Argument: The July 2025 AUP applies to Stability products, APIs, models and materials, explicitly including self-hosting under Non-Commercial Research, Community or Enterprise licenses and third-party hosting. It bans development/manufacture of illegal or regulated weapons, real-time public biometric identification for law enforcement, facial-recognition database expansion without consent and specified harmful profiling. It does not state a blanket military/intelligence ban; this does not necessarily govern independently redistributed permissive releases. Type: argument; confidence: low Scope (dimension): Stability AI's relationships and safeguards. A company relationship does not identify every product or release used. Research reviewed: 2026-10-24; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Unpublished contracts, reseller/subcontractor activity, customer-configured use and enforcement outcomes remain unknown. Hosted AUPs do not necessarily apply to independent local deployments or permissively licensed copies. ```json { "method": "military-ties-priority-v2", "entity": "stability", "company": "Stability AI", "scope": "Stability AI's relationships and safeguards. A company relationship does not identify every product or release used.", "components": { "restrictions": { "score": 2, "reason": "Specific weapons and harmful-surveillance safeguards exceed lawful-use-only rules, but no general military/intelligence prohibition exists; published license scope applies to specified Stability-licensed use, not every downstream copy.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/license", "https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large", "https://stability.ai/2025-acceptable-use-policy" ] }, "oversight": { "score": 1, "reason": "Stability may suspend or terminate access for AUP violations; no independent military-specific review or enforcement outcomes are disclosed.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/license", "https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large", "https://stability.ai/2025-acceptable-use-policy" ] }, "transparency": { "score": 1, "reason": "A public AUP names some prohibited uses, but no defense customer or relationship is disclosed in reviewed material.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://stability.ai/license", "https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large", "https://stability.ai/2025-acceptable-use-policy" ] } }, "relationship": "not-established", "relationshipReason": "The bounded official review found no named military/intelligence contract or operational use for this company/project. This evidence limit is not a clean bill of health; third-party model-provider relationships and customers’ independent deployments are separate.", "score": 8, "baseScore": 7, "safeguardPoints": 4, "safeguardAdjustment": 1, "rawScore": 8, "cap": null, "disclosureLimited": false, "meaning": "Known military relationships take priority over missing safeguards. The rating does not establish the probability of an undisclosed contract." } ``` - [Stability AI License](https://stability.ai/license) (primary; checked not recorded) - [Stable Diffusion 3.5 model card](https://huggingface.co/stabilityai/stable-diffusion-3.5-large) (model-card; checked 2026-10-24) - [Stability AI Acceptable Use Policy](https://stability.ai/2025-acceptable-use-policy) (acceptable-use-policy; checked 2026-10-24) ## BDS targets Finding: Not listed Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/stable-video-diffusion/#israel-palestine Categorical check of the BNC campaign guide and No Tech campaign page; absence from these named-target pages is not BDS approval. Reason: No named target for this company was found in the two checked BNC sources as of 2026-10-24. This is a narrow list check, not BDS approval, and it does not capture unlisted relationships or partners. Argument: No named target for this company was found in the two checked BNC sources as of 2026-10-24. This is a narrow list check, not BDS approval, and it does not capture unlisted relationships or partners. Type: conditional; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): Company record Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: No named target for this company was found in the two checked BNC sources as of 2026-10-24. This is a narrow list check, not BDS approval, and it does not capture unlisted relationships or partners. - [Guide to BDS Boycott & Pressure Corporate Priority Targeting](https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott) (primary; checked not recorded) - [No Tech for Oppression, Apartheid or Genocide](https://bdsmovement.net/no-tech-oppression-apartheid-or-genocide) (primary; checked not recorded) ## Reading the evidence - Assessments are provisional editorial judgments. Cite the profile and the underlying sources, and retain confidence, scope and unknowns. - Unknown, not-applicable and model-dependent are different states. Missing evidence does not establish good or bad conduct. - Company-level evidence does not establish use of a particular product or model. Account plan, model, host and route can change an assessment. - Energy scores describe documented practices and transparency, not measured request emissions. Zero component points can mean an evidence gap. - Published overall scores require at least four of six numerical dimensions. Preserve coverage and BDS adjustments; BDS itself is categorical. - No named BDS target found is limited to the reviewed campaign sources and is not approval. Personalized priorities do not change the published overall score. - Review and source-check dates describe the research, not this deployment. Fetch current primary sources when the decision requires current verification. Methodology: https://ethicalstack.ai/methodology/