LinkedIn faces US lawsuit over alleged misuse of private messages for AI training

A lawsuit filed in the US accuses LinkedIn of sharing private messages from Premium users to train artificial intelligence models without proper consent. The claims state that LinkedIn introduced a privacy setting in August 2022 that automatically enrolled users in a programme allowing third parties to use their personal data for AI training.

The Microsoft-owned professional networking platform is also accused of attempting to hide these actions. In September 2022, LinkedIn allegedly updated its privacy policy to state that user data could be disclosed for AI training purposes. According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn’s “frequently asked questions” section was also amended, suggesting users could opt out of data sharing, but training that had already occurred would remain unaffected.

A LinkedIn spokesperson denied the allegations, describing them as “false claims with no merit.” However, the lawsuit states that the company’s actions reflect a deliberate attempt to conceal violations of privacy standards and contractual agreements.

Filed in a California federal court, the lawsuit seeks $1,000 (£812) per user under the US Stored Communications Act, alongside additional damages for breach of contract and California’s unfair competition law.

LinkedIn maintains that user data sharing for AI purposes has not been enabled in the UK, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland. The platform boasts over one billion users globally, with 25% based in the US.

In 2023, LinkedIn reported $1.7 billion in revenue from Premium subscriptions, with growth driven by the introduction of new AI features. The case could have significant implications for the use of personal data in AI development.