A California federal lawsuit has been filed against LinkedIn, accusing the professional networking platform of engaging in deceptive practices by using its Premium users' private messages without consent to train artificial intelligence models. The lawsuit, lodged on behalf of those who have subscribed to LinkedIn Premium, alleges that the platform introduced a new privacy setting in August 2022 which automatically opted users into a scheme allowing third-party companies to access their personal data for AI development. Furthermore, it claims that LinkedIn attempted to obscure its actions by revising its privacy policy a month later to permit user data disclosure for AI purposes without adequately informing users.
LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Misuse of Private Messages for AI Training
LinkedIn Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Misuse of Private Messages for AI Training
A recent lawsuit claims LinkedIn improperly utilizes user data for artificial intelligence enhancement, prompting scrutiny of its privacy practices.
According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn's changes to its Frequently Asked Questions section implied users could opt-out of sharing data for AI training; however, they would still be subjected to the consequences of data sharing that had already occurred. Legal claims highlight a persistent pattern, asserting that LinkedIn knowingly violated its contractual commitments to maintain user privacy and was keen to remain out of the public eye regarding these infractions.
The plaintiff seeks compensation of $1,000 per user under the US federal Stored Communications Act, along with additional claims related to breach of contract and violations of California's unfair competition law. Notably, LinkedIn has asserted in communications to users that it refrains from enabling data sharing for AI training in the UK, European Economic Area, and Switzerland. With over one billion users globally and approximately 250 million residing in the US, LinkedIn reported $1.7 billion in revenue from premium services in 2023. The company continues to attract subscribers, as it integrates new AI features into its platform, despite these allegations raising concerns regarding user privacy and data security.
Additional reporting by Lily Jamali.
The plaintiff seeks compensation of $1,000 per user under the US federal Stored Communications Act, along with additional claims related to breach of contract and violations of California's unfair competition law. Notably, LinkedIn has asserted in communications to users that it refrains from enabling data sharing for AI training in the UK, European Economic Area, and Switzerland. With over one billion users globally and approximately 250 million residing in the US, LinkedIn reported $1.7 billion in revenue from premium services in 2023. The company continues to attract subscribers, as it integrates new AI features into its platform, despite these allegations raising concerns regarding user privacy and data security.
Additional reporting by Lily Jamali.
