A lawsuit claims LinkedIn shared private messages to train AI while allegedly concealing its actions. LinkedIn denies the accusations, calling them baseless.
Claims of Privacy Violations and AI Data Sharing
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of LinkedIn Premium users, accuses the platform of sharing private messages with other companies to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. It alleges that in August 2022, LinkedIn introduced a privacy setting that automatically opted users into a program allowing third parties to use their data for AI training.
The complaint states that LinkedIn updated its privacy policy a month later to include a clause permitting user data disclosure for AI training. This change allegedly aimed to conceal LinkedIn’s earlier actions. A company spokesperson told, “These claims are false and lack merit.”
The lawsuit also highlights changes to LinkedIn’s FAQ section. The update informed users they could opt out of sharing data for AI purposes but clarified this would not undo prior data usage. The filing describes LinkedIn’s behavior as a deliberate attempt to “cover its tracks.” It further claims LinkedIn knowingly violated privacy standards and aimed to avoid public backlash.
Legal Action and Potential Implications
Filed in a California federal court, the lawsuit represents a LinkedIn Premium user and others in similar situations. It seeks $1,000 per user for alleged violations of the US Stored Communications Act. Additional compensation is sought for breach of contract and California’s unfair competition laws.
An email from LinkedIn last year stated that data sharing for AI purposes was not enabled in the UK, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland.
With over one billion users worldwide, LinkedIn draws nearly a quarter of its user base from the US. In 2023, premium subscriptions generated $1.7 billion in revenue, with rapid growth in premium users attributed to expanding AI features.