LinkedIn on the spot for secretly harvesting user data to train AI

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is under fire for using user data to train its generative AI models without explicit user consent. In a recent "trust and safety" update, Blake Lawit, LinkedIn's Senior Vice President and General Counsel, revealed that LinkedIn has been gathering data from user posts and activity for both training its AI models and generating automatic content suggestions for users.

While LinkedIn updated its privacy policy to reflect these practices, it seems the platform had already started collecting data prior to the official announcement. According to LinkedIn's FAQ, this means users are automatically opted into data collection unless they choose to opt out — a fact that has sparked concern among users, many of whom see the move as a breach of trust.

The platform collects and uses personal data such as posts, articles, feedback, and usage patterns to train its AI. However, the collection isn't limited to public data: LinkedIn’s generative AI features may use personal information, including names and sensitive data, in suggestions made to users, potentially even providing others' data in certain cases.

Currently, users in the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland are not subject to LinkedIn's data collection for AI training. The social network has also paused using data from UK users following a complaint by the UK's Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Stephen Almond, executive director of regulatory risk at the ICO, welcomed LinkedIn’s decision to pause the practice while the company reviews privacy concerns. "It is crucial that the public can trust that their privacy rights will be respected from the outset," Almond said, underscoring the need for proper safeguards in AI development.

LinkedIn's approach has sparked user anger across the platform, with many describing it as a violation of trust. The good news is you can opt-out of LinkedIn’s data scraping. Just go to your LinkedIn’s "Settings" then "Data Privacy" and look for an item labelled "Data for Generative AI improvement." Click the single button there to opt out.

LinkedIn’s strategy to secretly use its users' data without consent is not new. It’s a common tactic Big Tech companies employ (scrape first, settle later). And though the platform is offering users the ability to opt out of having their data used for AI model training, experts argue it was wrong to keep users opted in by default.