LinkedIn sued for allegedly sharing user DMs for AI training

In the age of artificial intelligence, information is a very valuable resource for developers and companies. Usage data from thousands (or millions) of people can be part of the dataset used to train a particular AI model. Microsoft is a prominent player in the AI sector, closely collaborating with OpenAI. However, a lawsuit has targeted Microsoft’s LinkedIn, alleging unauthorized data collection for AI training.

A lawsuit claims LinkedIn is sharing data with third parties for AI training, including DMs

Many services have an option you can opt for, where you share your app usage data to the developer. A message will usually say your data will be private, not used to identify you, and help improve the app. Something similar appears when you first set up an Android phone, for example, offering you a switch to enable or disable the option.

However, as reported by the BBC, the latest lawsuit against LinkedIn alleges that the service quietly introduced an option to share usage data without prior authorization. In other words, the company might have implemented the new default setting without informing users. According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn could be sharing private data, including direct messages, with third parties to train AI models.

As in other services with similar options, you can opt-out. However, the lawsuit alleges that LinkedIn implemented the new setting without notifying users. This means that a lot of people may be sharing private information right now without even realizing it. The filing says that the social platform for professionals updated its FAQ section, reflecting the existence of the new option. However, it reads that disabling it will have no effect on data already shared.

The plaintiffs seek damages of $1,000 for each affected user. On the other hand, the LinkedIn team claims it did not commit any irregularities. A spokesperson for the company said that the allegations “are false claims with no merit.”

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