In brief
LinkedIn is in hot water after Premium users filed a lawsuit alleging the platform misused private messages to train AI. The suit claims that the company secretly opted users into data sharing and later modified its privacy policy without clear communication. Although LinkedIn denies the allegations, the lawsuit signifies a serious challenge to its transparency and user trust.
A lawsuit has been filed against LinkedIn by a group of Premium users, claiming the platform mishandled their private messages to train AI. The lawsuit contends that in August of last year, LinkedIn introduced a privacy setting that automatically enrolled users in a program allowing third parties to access their personal data. This move allegedly went unnoticed until LinkedIn later updated its privacy policy, stating user data could indeed be shared for AI training purposes.According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn's actions demonstrate a pattern of attempting to hide its activities. The complaint highlights that LinkedIn changed its "frequently asked questions" section to suggest users could opt out of data sharing, but this wouldn't affect past data usage. The legal filing shows concern over LinkedIn's apparent awareness of its violations of privacy terms.The lawsuit is seeking damages of $1,000 (£812) per user for alleged infractions related to the US federal Stored Communications Act, breach of contract, and California’s unfair competition laws. It was revealed in an email to users that LinkedIn has not shared data for AI training in the UK, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland.LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, has over one billion users globally, with nearly a quarter located in the US. The company generated $1.7 billion from premium subscriptions in 2023 and continues to expand its AI offerings, attracting more Premium users.
