California: A lawsuit has been filed in a California federal court accusing LinkedIn of sharing private messages from its Premium users with third parties to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. The legal action argues the Microsoft-owned platform “quietly” introduced a privacy setting in August 2022 that automatically opted users into a programme allowing their data to be used for AI training.
The criticism also alleges LinkedIn sought to cover these actions by amending its privacy policy in September 2022, permitting the exposure of user information for AI-related purposes. The filing claims LinkedIn later revised its FAQ section to state that users could opt out of data sharing for AI purposes, though training based on previously collected data would remain unaffected.
The lawsuit stated that, “LinkedIn’s actions indicate a pattern of trying to cover its tracks,” accusing the platform of intentionally violating privacy standards and contractual agreements to avoid public backlash. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a LinkedIn Premium user and “all others” in similar situations, seeks $1,000 per user for alleged violations of the US federal Stored Communications Act, alongside impairments for breach of contract and California’s unfair competition law.
A LinkedIn spokesperson responded to the allegations, describing them as “false claims with no merit.” According to an email sent to users last year, LinkedIn explained that data sharing for AI purposes was not enabled in the UK, European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking platform, boasts over one billion users globally, with nearly 25 percent of its user base in the United States. In 2023, the company reported $1.7 billion in revenue from premium subscriptions, a figure that has grown as LinkedIn continues to incorporate AI-powered features into its services.
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