A lawsuit filed in the US accuses LinkedIn of sharing private messages from its Premium users with third parties to train artificial intelligence (AI) models.
The complaint claims that in August 2022, LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking platform, “quietly” introduced a privacy setting that automatically opted users into a program allowing their personal data to be used for AI training.
The lawsuit also alleges that LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, sought to obscure its actions by updating its privacy policy a month later to permit the disclosure of user information for AI purposes.
A LinkedIn spokesperson told the BBC, “These are false claims with no merit.”
The filing further states that LinkedIn modified its FAQ section to inform users they could opt out of sharing data for AI training, though it clarified that opting out would not undo the use of data already shared.
“LinkedIn’s actions… suggest a deliberate effort to cover its tracks,” the lawsuit claims, arguing the company was aware it had violated its privacy commitments and sought to avoid public scrutiny.
Filed in a federal court in California, the lawsuit represents a LinkedIn Premium user and others in similar circumstances. It seeks $1,000 (£812) per user for alleged violations of the US federal Stored Communications Act, along with unspecified damages for breach of contract and violations of California’s unfair competition law.
LinkedIn has reportedly told users that data sharing for AI purposes has not been enabled in the UK, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland.
With over one billion users worldwide, nearly a quarter of whom are in the US, LinkedIn generated $1.7 billion in revenue from premium subscriptions in 2023. The company says its premium subscriber base is rapidly growing as it introduces more AI-driven features.
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