LinkedIn has come under scrutiny for potentially using U.S. user data to train AI models without promptly updating its terms of service. While LinkedIn users in the U.S., India, and other countries can access an opt-out feature, those in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are excluded from data collection due to stricter privacy laws.
The professional social networking platform provides a toggle in the “Data Privacy” section that allows users to opt out of having their data used to train AI models, specifically for content creation.
However, this opt-out feature isn’t new, and the company initially failed to update its privacy policy to reflect this data usage, reports 404Media. This move is typically required before any significant shift in how user data is handled. The company has since updated its terms, but questions remain about why it did so after the implemented change.
Also, the toggle is set to remain ‘on.’ This means a user must manually head to the settings and turn it off.
The training of these AI models includes writing suggestions and posting recommendations, and LinkedIn has not ruled out that models provided by external vendors, such as its parent company, Microsoft, may also be involved.
LinkedIn clarifies that it collects data such as user posts, language preferences, and interactions on the platform to enhance AI features. The company also states that it employs privacy-enhancing techniques, such as redaction, to limit personal information in datasets used for AI training.
Despite these reassurances, privacy groups are not satisfied. As TechCrunch reports, the Open Rights Group (ORG), a nonprofit organisation, has urged the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to investigate LinkedIn’s practices.
This situation also echoes a broader trend in the industry, where every data point is being scraped to feed AI models. LinkedIn joins companies like Meta, Reddit, and Stack Overflow, which have faced backlash for similar practices. Meta, for example, recently resumed plans to scrape user data for AI training after simplifying the opt-out process in cooperation with the ICO.
In contrast, European Union citizens’ data will not be collected unless they explicitly consent due to stricter laws. Meta has also announced that it will withhold future AI models in the EU due to a lack of clarity from regulators.
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