LinkedIn is training AI models on user data

LinkedIn has quietly enrolled users into training generative AI models.

According to a report by 404Media, without prior consent, the professional social network introduced a privacy setting allowing the platform to use personal data for AI training.

While LinkedIn recently updated its privacy policy to reflect this change, many users were not notified beforehand.

In its updated policy, LinkedIn states that personal data may be used to "improve, develop, and provide products and services," including training AI models and using automated systems to personalize the platform.

Users can opt-out by visiting the "Data for Generative AI Improvement" setting in the Data Privacy tab and toggling the option off. However, LinkedIn notes that opting out only affects future data usage, not previous training conducted with personal data.

LinkedIn’s AI training policy highlights that it uses "privacy enhancing technologies" to redact or remove personal data in its training sets.

Additionally, LinkedIn does not train models using data from individuals living in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.

The platform also utilizes other machine learning tools for moderation and personalization, separate from generative AI models. Opting out of these requires users to fill out the LinkedIn Data Processing Objection Form.