The lawsuit, filed in California, claims LinkedIn breached user privacy by sharing private messages without consent, amid changes to its privacy policies.
**LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged AI Training Data Misuse**
**LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged AI Training Data Misuse**
LinkedIn is accused of improperly using user private messages to enhance AI models, raising significant privacy concerns.
A recent lawsuit has emerged against LinkedIn, alleging that the social networking giant has been unlawfully sharing private messages of its Premium users with third parties for the purpose of training artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The claims assert that LinkedIn covertly enabled a program in August last year, which automatically opted users in for data sharing, subsequently keeping them unaware of its actions.
The complaint further alleges that LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, attempted to mask its practices by modifying its privacy policy a month later. This change indicated that personal information could be disclosed for AI training without prior user notification. In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for LinkedIn stated to BBC News that the claims are "false with no merit."
Details in the lawsuit highlight that LinkedIn altered its 'frequently asked questions' section to imply that users could opt-out of data sharing, although they would not be able to prevent the use of previously collected data in AI model training. The lawsuit characterizes LinkedIn's approach as indicative of a strategy to mislead users about their data privacy, arguing that it shows a clear awareness of violating privacy commitments.
The plaintiff, representing those similarly situated, seeks compensation of $1,000 per user under the US federal Stored Communications Act, along with damages for breach of contract and an unspecified sum for violations of California’s unfair competition law.
In a communication sent to users last year, LinkedIn claimed that it did not permit user data sharing for AI in the UK, European Economic Area, or Switzerland. With over one billion users globally, LinkedIn reports nearly a quarter of its user base residing in the United States. The company earned $1.7 billion in revenue from premium subscriptions in 2023 and continues to see growth in this area, aligning it with new AI features.
Additional reporting was provided by Lily Jamali.
