A class action lawsuit has been filed against LinkedIn in the United States, claiming that the professional social networking site shares private user messages with third parties to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. The class action lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims that LinkedIn secretly opted its Premium users into a program that let external companies access their data.
Accusations Against LinkedIn
According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn implemented a new privacy setting in August of last year, which automatically enrolled users in a program that allows third-party companies to use their private messages to train AI models. The lawsuit alleges that this was done “quietly,” without informing users about the change. A month later, the company allegedly updated its privacy policy, stating that user information could be disclosed for AI training purposes.
The filing alleges that LinkedIn was trying to cover up its actions by changing its ‘frequently asked questions’ section. The revised section claimed that users could opt out of sharing their data for AI purposes, but it also stated that such a decision would not impact data already used for training. The lawsuit claims, “LinkedIn’s actions. indicate a pattern of attempting to cover its tracks,” indicating that the company knew it was violating the law and deliberately downplayed public attention.
LinkedIn Denies Allegations
A LinkedIn spokesperson addressed the lawsuit and referred to its claims as “false” adding that they held “no merit.” Nevertheless, the case continues by trying to uphold violations of the privacy rights of users and the breach of trust between LinkedIn and its users.
The complaint is filed on behalf of a LinkedIn Premium user and claims $1,000 or £812 for each affected user under the US federal Stored Communications Act. It also filed a different amount for breaches of contract and California’s unfair competition law. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of all Premium users who may have been affected by the alleged actions.
Global User Base of LinkedIn and Financial Impact
With over one billion users worldwide, LinkedIn has a robust user base in the United States, representing nearly a quarter of its total user base. In 2023, the company posted $1.7 billion in revenue from Premium, which also reflects the rapid growth of the subscription service with AI introductions on LinkedIn.
According to LinkedIn, in an email to users, it has not turned on the sharing of user data for AI training purposes in regions like the UK, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, where privacy regulations are more stringent.
Growing Concern Over AI and User Privacy
This lawsuit highlights the growing concerns over privacy in the age of artificial intelligence. Questions about user consent, data security, and the ethical use of personal information are increasingly relevant as AI technologies continue to develop. The involvement of LinkedIn in this legal case may prove to be a turning point in the discussion about how platforms handle user data in the context of AI advancements.
As the case unfolds, many are watching closely to see how LinkedIn responds to the allegations and whether new legislation will emerge to address similar issues within the tech industry.