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LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged AI Training Data Use

Author

Alicia Shapiro
January 23, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

A conceptual illustration featuring LinkedIn's logo on a glowing digital screen surrounded by flowing data streams. The background includes abstract silhouettes of AI-related icons, such as gears and a brain, symbolizing artificial intelligence integration. Shades of blue and white dominate the design, reflecting LinkedIn's branding. Subtle privacy symbols, like padlocks and shields, are incorporated to hint at data security concerns. The overall composition highlights the intersection of social media, AI technology, and user privacy issues.

Image Source: ChatGPT-4o

LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged AI Training Data Use

LinkedIn, the professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, is facing a lawsuit in the United States over claims that it shared users’ private messages and data with third parties for AI training purposes.

Key Allegations

The lawsuit accuses LinkedIn of:

  • Sharing Data Without Proper Consent: Allegedly using private messages and other user data for AI training without adequately informing users.

  • Covert Privacy Policy Changes: Quietly introducing a privacy setting in August 2024 that opted users into data sharing by default. The updated privacy policy allegedly stated user data could be used for AI training, while an FAQ noted opting out would not retroactively affect data already used.

  • Contract and Privacy Violations: Allegedly violating the US federal Stored Communications Act, California’s unfair competition law, and breach of contract.

The lawsuit seeks $1,000 per user for damages, as well as additional, unspecified compensation under other claims.

LinkedIn’s Response

A spokesperson for LinkedIn has denied the allegations, calling them “false claims with no merit” (via BBC). The company clarified that changes to its privacy policy in 2024 did not apply to users in the UK, European Economic Area, or Switzerland, according to an email sent to users.

A History of Legal Scrutiny

This lawsuit comes after LinkedIn settled a $6.625 million class action lawsuit in 2024, related to accusations of inflating video advertisement metrics from 2015 to 2023.

What This Means

The allegations against LinkedIn underscore growing concerns about how tech platforms use personal data, particularly in the development of AI systems. If proven, these claims could amplify calls for stricter regulations governing user privacy and data transparency.

Looking Ahead

As AI becomes more integrated into social media platforms, the ethical boundaries around data usage will continue to be tested. Whether or not LinkedIn is found liable, this lawsuit may set a precedent for how user data is handled in the AI era.

For those concerned about how their data is being used, LinkedIn users can review their privacy settings to manage data-sharing preferences.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.