LinkedIn is quietly scraping your personal data for AI training: Here's how to opt-out

[Innovabble]

 

LinkedIn has recently become the focal point of a data privacy controversy. The company stands accused of using user data to train its AI models without obtaining explicit consent, which has sparked serious concerns about data privacy, ethical practices, and the limits of personal information usage in the era of artificial intelligence.

 

The controversy came to light when it was revealed that LinkedIn, which boasts a user base of over 800 million professionals, had been utilizing user data to train its AI models without first updating its terms of service. This practice effectively meant that a substantial portion of LinkedIn's global user community was unwittingly allowing the platform, its parent company Microsoft, and their affiliated entities to harness their personal data and content for AI model training.

 

In the wake of the controversy, LinkedIn has mounted a defense of its actions, asserting that the data collection and usage were conducted within the bounds of its privacy policy. The company has emphasized its commitment to data protection and transparency, highlighting its use of privacy-enhancing techniques such as redacting and removing sensitive information from training datasets. However, these assurances have done little to quell the growing discontent among users and privacy advocates. 

 

Interestingly, the controversy has also exposed significant regional disparities in data protection regulations. Users in the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland were not subjected to this data scraping practice, thanks to stricter data privacy laws in these regions. This discrepancy underscores the fragmented nature of global data protection standards and their impact on user privacy across different jurisdictions.

 

The situation is not unique to LinkedIn. Recently, Meta faced similar scrutiny for scraping Australian users’ data for AI training without providing an opt-out option, contrasting sharply with the practices required in the EU. These incidents collectively highlight the pressing need for a more unified, global approach to data protection that prioritizes user consent and transparency.

 

For users worried about their data being used for AI training, LinkedIn offers a straightforward opt-out process:

1. Go to the 'Data Privacy' section in your LinkedIn settings.
2. Select 'Data for Generative AI Improvement.'
3. Toggle off the option for 'Use my data for training content creation AI models.'

 

However, it is important to note that opting out will not affect the data that has already been used for training.

 

 

 

 

 

The implications of this revelation extend far beyond LinkedIn, spotlighting a critical issue facing the tech industry: the delicate balance between rapid AI advancement and user privacy protection. How can we as a society ensure that technological progress doesn't come at the cost of individual privacy rights, and what role should governments, tech companies, and users play in striking this balance?

 

• https://www.thestack.technology/linkedin-trains-ai-on-personal-data/
• https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/18/linkedin-scraped-user-data-for-training-before-updating-its-terms-of-service/
• https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/18/24248471/linkedin-ai-training-user-accounts-data-opt-in

 

Image: Peter KovA!A? | Dreamstime.com