Have you ever wondered how social media platforms use your data? If you’re a LinkedIn user, you might be in for a surprise. LinkedIn may have been training AI models on user data without fully updating its terms, leaving many users in the dark about how their information is being used.
LinkedIn has an opt-out feature for users in the U.S., allowing them to control whether their data can be used to train “content creation AI models.” However, this option is not available for users in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, likely due to stricter data privacy laws in those regions. While this toggle isn’t new, LinkedIn initially didn’t update its privacy policy to reflect the data use, as first reported by 404 Media (via TechCrunch).
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The terms of service have been updated, but usually, this happens before a major change, like using user data for a new purpose. This is meant to give users a chance to adjust their accounts or leave the platform if they don’t agree with the changes. But this time, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
So, what kinds of models are LinkedIn training? According to the company, they include models for writing suggestions and post recommendations. Additionally, generative AI models on LinkedIn might be trained by third-party providers, like Microsoft, which owns LinkedIn.
“As with most features on LinkedIn, when you engage with our platform we collect and use (or process) data about your use of the platform, including personal data,” the Q&A reads. “This could include your use of the generative AI (AI models used to create content) or other AI features, your posts and articles, how frequently you use LinkedIn, your language preference, and any feedback you may have provided to our teams. We use this data, consistent with our privacy policy, to improve or develop the LinkedIn services.”
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If you want to opt out of having your data used for this purpose, go to the “Data Privacy” section in your LinkedIn settings. However, be aware that any opt-out action won’t affect data that has already been used for training.
Concerns about user data being used without consent are growing. Recently, during an inquiry, Meta’s global privacy director confirmed that the company collects public data from Australian users to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models.
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