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LinkedIn users in the U.S. — but not the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, likely due to those regions’ data privacy rules — have an opt-out toggle in their settings screen disclosing that LinkedIn scrapes personal data to train “content creation AI models.” The toggle isn’t new. But, as first reported by 404 Media, LinkedIn initially didn’t refresh its privacy policy to reflect the data use.

The terms of service have now been updated, but ordinarily that occurs well before a big change like using user data for a new purpose like this. The idea is it gives users an option to make account changes or leave the platform if they don’t like the changes. Not this time, it seems.

To opt out of LinkedIn’s data scraping, head to the “Data Privacy” section of the LinkedIn settings menu on desktop, click “Data for Generative AI improvement,” then toggle off the “Use my data for training content creation AI models” option. You can also attempt to opt out more comprehensively via this form, but LinkedIn notes that any opt-out won’t affect training that’s already taken place.

The nonprofit Open Rights Group (ORG) has called on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the U.K.’s independent regulator for data protection rights, to investigate LinkedIn and other social networks that train on user data by default.

“LinkedIn is the latest social media company found to be processing our data without asking for consent,” Mariano delli Santi, ORG’s legal and policy officer, said in a statement. “The opt-out model proves once again to be wholly inadequate to protect our rights: the public cannot be expected to monitor and chase every single online company that decides to use our data to train AI. Opt-in consent isn’t only legally mandated, but a common-sense requirement.”

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[-] ryper@lemmy.ca 91 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The terms of service have now been updated, but ordinarily that occurs well before a big change like using user data for a new purpose like this. The idea is it gives users an option to make account changes or leave the platform if they don’t like the changes. Not this time, it seems.

They should be required to delete their training data and start over after people have had a chance to opt in.

This isn't just in the US; I've got the setting in Canada and I'd assume it's in just about any country where LinkedIn is available that isn't on the very short list of exceptions.

[-] SeaJ@lemm.ee 28 points 1 month ago

But if they didn't get free resources, they wouldn't be profitable!

Sadly that is the excuse many AI companies use.

[-] FrostyPolicy@suppo.fi 8 points 1 month ago

I'm in the EU and that section in the settings isn't even there. I guess they aren't doing it here, for now at least. Probably due to GDPR.

[-] njordomir@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

If we can't put the cat back in the bag, then the stolen data should be open-sourced and they should be regulated out of the AI space for a few years to allow companies not stealing data (I assume there are some) to catch up.

this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2024
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