A US lawsuit is claiming LinkedIn misused private messages from Premium users to train AI models without explicit consent. The platform allegedly enrolled users in a program allowing third-party access to their personal data for AI development.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a LinkedIn Premium user and all others similarly situated also alleges that the Microsoft-owned social media platform secretly shared private messages with third-party companies for AI development.
The lawsuit alleged that in August 2023, LinkedIn “quietly” introduced a new privacy setting that automatically opted users in to a program allowing third parties to access their personal data, including private messages, for AI training purposes. This action, the LinkedIn lawsuit argues, constitutes a breach of user trust and violates the company’s contractual obligations.
Also, the lawsuit alleges that LinkedIn attempted to conceal its actions by subsequently modifying its privacy policy to clearly state that user data could be used for AI training purposes. The company also revised its FAQ section to indicate that users could opt-out of future data sharing for AI development, but this option would not prevent the use of data already collected.
Meanwhile, a LinkedIn spokesperson vehemently denied these allegations, stating that “these are false claims with no merit.”
“LinkedIn’s actions… indicate a pattern of attempting to cover its tracks,” the lawsuit asserts. “This behavior suggests that LinkedIn was fully aware that it had violated its contractual promises and privacy standards and aimed to minimize public scrutiny.”
The LinkedIn lawsuit seeks $1,000 in damages per user for alleged violations of the US federal Stored Communications Act, along with unspecified damages for breach of contract and violations of California’s unfair competition law.
LinkedIn has emphasized that user data sharing for AI purposes has not been enabled in the UK, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
However, the company boasts over one billion users worldwide, with nearly a quarter residing in the United States. In 2023, LinkedIn generated $1.7 billion in revenue from premium subscriptions, a figure that has been steadily increasing as the company integrates more AI-powered features into its platform.
