LinkedIn Sued for Allegedly Sharing User Data

A US lawsuit filed on behalf of Microsoft’s LinkedIn premium users accused the business-focused social media platform of disclosing their private messages to third parties without permission to train generative artificial intelligence models.

The lawsuit alleges that in August last year, LinkedIn “quietly” introduced a privacy setting that let users enable or disable the sharing of their data.

According to the customers, LinkedIn discreetly changed its privacy policy a month later, saying that data could be used to train AI models, and in a “frequently asked questions” hyperlink, it said opting out “does not affect training that has already taken place.”

The lawsuit added that LinkedIn’s attempt to “cover its tracks” suggests the firm was fully aware it violated customers’ privacy and then promised to use personal data only to support and improve its platform to minimise public scrutiny and legal fallout, the complaint said.

The lawsuit was filed in the San Jose, California, federal court on behalf of LinkedIn Premium customers who sent or received InMail messages and whose private information was disclosed to third parties for AI training before Sept. 18.

It seeks unspecified damages for breach of contract and violations of California’s unfair competition law and $1,000 per person for violations of the federal Stored Communications Act.

REUTERS/Chidimma Gold