A hot potato: LinkedIn users have recently filed a class action lawsuit against the Microsoft-owned business and employment social network. Premium subscribers claim the company violated their privacy by using personal data to train AI algorithms without their knowledge or permission.
Millions of LinkedIn Premium customers intend to fight the social network in court. A lawsuit filed in a San Jose, California federal court states that users are seeking compensation after discovering that LinkedIn used their private personal messages for AI training purposes. The lawsuit states that LinkedIn tried to cover its tracks and was aware of the unlawful practice against its customers.
The class action comes after LinkedIn quietly updated its privacy policy in September 2024, stating that it uses people's data to train machine learning algorithms. The lawsuit alleges that the social network began using personal data, including employment history, individual details, and private messages, even before announcing the policy change.
"These are false claims with no merit," a LinkedIn spokesperson told BBC News.
LinkedIn claims the alleged inappropriate data use did not involve customers in Europe, the UK, or Switzerland and changed the website's FAQs section to explain that users could opt out of data sharing. However, the new policy would not apply to AI training that had already taken place.
The lawsuit says LinkedIn's behavior indicates a pattern of attempting to cover its tracks. The company knew it was violating the law and breaching the contractual promises of the Premium subscription and its privacy standards. Managers made a blatant attempt to minimize public scrutiny of the alleged data abuse.
The plaintiffs seek $1,000 in compensation per user, accusing LinkedIn of violating the US Stored Communications Act. Furthermore, the lawsuit asks that the company pay an additional, unspecified amount for breach of contract and violation of California's unfair competition law.
LinkedIn has shown no interest in settling the potentially damaging complaint, fully maintaining that the suit is frivolous. Like most tech companies, LinkedIn is pouring money into AI models and generative AI to boost profits and future business prospects. Ironically, LinkedIn has disavowed any inaccurate, misleading, or fake content its AI model produces, warning that such information is the user's responsibility.
LinkedIn accused of using personal data without consent, even from paid users
