It's that passive sense: "There was talk." Who's talking? We don't know.

这里用了被动语态，有传言说，谁传的，我们不知道。

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选

We don't have to worry about links of time for the competition when you were doing a passive animation.

我们不需要担心,在此过程中的时间关联,像在被动型动画里所担心的那样。

麻省理工公开课 - 媒体、教育、市场课程节选

You can be passive if it isn't any good but if you are more active, you may find things.

如果没有什么好处，你们可以被动,但是如果你们更主动，会发现些什么。

麻省理工公开课 - 电影哲学课程节选