LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Sharing of User Data for AI Training

Shape1 Shape2
LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Sharing of User Data for AI Training



LinkedIn 5

HIGHLIGHTS

LinkedIn Faces Class-Action Lawsuit from Premium Users.

Users Claim Their Private InMail Messages Were Shared with Third Parties without Consent for AI Training.

The Lawsuit Targets Premium Members who Engaged in Private Messaging Features.

LinkedIn, the widely recognized professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, is currently entangled in a class-action lawsuit initiated by its Premium members. The crux of the allegations is that the company unlawfully shared users’ private messages with external entities without obtaining their consent, using this data to train generative AI models.

Filed on a recent Tuesday, this lawsuit represents a significant number of LinkedIn Premium users and raises pressing concerns regarding data privacy and user consent. As reported by Reuters, the complaint suggests that LinkedIn rolled out a privacy setting in August of the previous year, allowing users some control over the sharing of their personal information.

However, the plaintiffs argue that LinkedIn tampered with its privacy policy on September 18, 2023, adding a clause indicating that user data could be utilized for AI training purposes. Additionally, they point out that a section in the “Frequently Asked Questions” related to the updated policy stated that opting out would not affect previously conducted training, raising serious ethical questions.

For more insights, check out: LinkedIn’s Alleged Use of User Data for AI Model Training.

The lawsuit underscores that LinkedIn’s actions reflect awareness of the potential privacy violations and contradict their stated commitment to using personal data solely to enhance their platform. It is suggested that the adjustments to the policy were made discreetly, presumably to evade public scrutiny and reduce the risk of legal repercussions.

Focusing specifically on Premium users who have either sent or received private InMail messages, the complaint charges that their personal information was shared with outside parties for AI training purposes, pre-dating the controversial policy update. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation based on breach of contract, violations of California’s unfair competition laws, and are also aiming for $1,000 per individual under the federal Stored Communications Act.

For related information, read: Leveraging AI: LinkedIn’s New Features.

Though LinkedIn has yet to issue a statement addressing the lawsuit’s allegations, this case emphasizes heightened concerns regarding the use of personal data in AI development contexts. It has important implications for the ongoing discussion about the balance between user privacy and the innovative demands of advanced AI technology.

For further reading, you might find this article intriguing: The Evolution of LinkedIn as a Professional Networking Hub.

This rewritten content is structured and detailed while retaining key information and HTML formatting as requested.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *