LinkedIn Is Accused Of Using Private Messages For AI Training

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking platform, is under fire after a lawsuit accused the company of using private messages to train artificial intelligence (AI) models—without user consent. The case, filed in a California federal court on behalf of LinkedIn Premium users, alleges that the Microsoft-owned platform quietly updated its privacy settings in August 2023, automatically opting users into a program that allowed third parties to access their personal data for AI training.

The lawsuit further claims that LinkedIn tried to cover its tracks a month later by altering its privacy policy to explicitly state that user information could be used for AI training. It also alleges that LinkedIn changed its FAQ section, informing users they could opt out—but that doing so wouldn’t erase data already collected for AI purposes.

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“LinkedIn’s actions… indicate a pattern of attempting to cover its tracks,” the lawsuit states. “This behaviour suggests that LinkedIn was fully aware that it had violated its contractual promises and privacy standards and aimed to minimise public scrutiny.”

A LinkedIn spokesperson pushed back against the claims, telling João da Silva from the BBC, “These are false claims with no merit.”

The lawsuit is seeking $1,000 per affected user under the US federal Stored Communications Act, along with additional damages for breach of contract and violations of California’s unfair competition laws.

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While LinkedIn has not publicly commented on whether it uses private messages for AI training, the company previously stated in an email to users that it has not enabled data-sharing for AI purposes in the UK, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland. However, that still leaves a significant portion of its user base potentially affected, particularly in the United States, where LinkedIn has nearly 25% of its one billion global users.

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The lawsuit also brings into question LinkedIn’s growing reliance on AI. In 2023, LinkedIn generated $1.7 billion in revenue from its premium subscriptions, and the number of paying users has been rising rapidly as the platform continues to integrate AI-powered tools.

This case underscores the growing tensions around AI training and data privacy, especially as companies look for ways to develop machine learning models using vast amounts of user-generated content. Similar lawsuits have targeted tech giants like OpenAI and Google, as concerns mount over whether AI companies are scraping the web—including private user data—without proper disclosure.

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If the claims against LinkedIn hold up in court, it could set a precedent for how tech companies handle user data in the AI age. For now, LinkedIn users—especially those on premium plans—might want to take a closer look at their privacy settings.