The Microsoft’s business-focused social media platform, LinkedIn, has been hit with a lawsuit by its premium users alleging that the company is using and disclosing their private messages (PM) to third-party services without their consent. They further claim that the company the private chats are also used directly or indirectly to train their generative artificial intelligence (AI) models.
The lawsuit—proposed class action—was filed on Tuesday night on behalf of countless of LinkedIn Premium users. The class action filed implies that the platform queitly added a privacy setting in August that allow users to control (turn ON and OFF) the sharing of their personal data. However, users said LinkedIn then discreetly updated its privacy policy on Sept. 18 to say data could be used to train AI models.
Furthermore, on LinkedIn’s frequently asked questions (FAQs) page, hyperlink said opting out “does not affect training that has already commenced.” So, the proposed class action filed claims that this attempt to "cover its tracks" suggests LinkedIn was fully aware it violated customers' privacy.
In response to this claim, LinkedIn denies the violations and said in a statement that "these are false claims with no merit," with no additional comment. The announcement of the lawsuit was sent to affected premium customers via InMail messages. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for breaking a contract and California’s unfair competition law, plus $1,000 per person for breaking the federal Stored Communications Act.
