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LinkedIn has faced backlash after updating its terms of service to automatically opt U.S. users into data collection for its generative AI models.
The update, set to take effect on November 20, will allow LinkedIn to use members’ data to train AI models for content generation and provide more personalized services.
User Backlash and Data Privacy Concerns
According to a report from 404 Media, users across Europe, including the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, are excluded from this automatic opt-in, likely due to the region’s strict data privacy laws.
The update to LinkedIn’s privacy policy, which states that the platform will use user data to enhance AI-driven insights and services, has caused a wave of discontent on social media.
Many users have expressed frustration with LinkedIn’s decision to automatically opt them into the data collection plan without explicit consent.
LinkedIn is now using everyone's content to train their AI tool — they just auto opted everyone in.
I recommend opting out now (AND that orgs put an end to auto opt-in, it's not cool)
Opt out steps: Settings and Privacy > Data Privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement (OFF) pic.twitter.com/UsS61gHw4C— Rachel Tobac (@RachelTobac) September 18, 2024
LinkedIn maintains that it uses privacy-enhancing technologies to redact or remove personal data from its training sets.
However, this has done little to ease the concerns of users who argue that the policy update was not communicated clearly and that data collection should require an opt-in, rather than an opt-out process.
To address the concerns, LinkedIn has provided users with the ability to disable the data collection manually.
Users can navigate to the “Data Privacy” section in LinkedIn’s settings and toggle off the option for “Use my data for training content creation AI models.”
🚨Heads up, LinkedIn just opted everyone into training their AI.
Go to Settings->Data Privacy->TURN OFF data for generative AI improvement 🚨 pic.twitter.com/u8CcftVRIF
— Chey Curtis (@Cheyenne_Curtis) September 18, 2024
Despite this, the company notes that any opt-out will not affect data that has already been used for AI training.
Europe’s Stricter Stance on AI Data Usage
LinkedIn’s decision to exclude European users from this data collection initiative highlights the impact of the region’s rigorous data privacy laws.
Several other tech giants have faced legal challenges when attempting to use EU citizen data for AI training.
In June, Meta was forced to pause plans to train its large language models with public data from Facebook and Instagram users in the EU after discussions with the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC).
Similarly, earlier last month, X agreed to permanently halt the processing of personal data from EU and EEA users for its AI chatbot, Grok, following legal proceedings brought by the DPC.
