LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned and business-focused platform, has been sued by Premium customers, who allege that private messages were used to train artificial intelligence (AI).
LinkedIn was sued Photo: Shutterstock
Users claim their private messages were disclosed to third parties without permission to train generative AI models, Reuters reports.
According to a class-action lawsuit filed late Tuesday on behalf of millions of LinkedIn Premium users, the platform quietly introduced a privacy setting in August 2024 that allowed users to turn personal data sharing on or off.
The plaintiffs allege that LinkedIn subsequently subtly updated its privacy policy on September 18, 2024, noting that the data could be used to train AI models, and that an FAQ section stated that giving up this option “it does not affect training that has already taken place“.
The plaintiffs believe that this action indicates that LinkedIn was “fully aware” that it had violated users’ privacy. They also accuse the platform of breaking its promise to use personal data exclusively to support and improve the platform, trying to minimize public criticism and legal consequences.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Jose, California, on behalf of LinkedIn Premium users who sent or received InMail messages and whose private information was disclosed before September 18 to third parties to train AI models.
The class action seeks unspecified damages for breach of contract and California’s unfair competition law, as well as $1,000 per person for violation of the federal Stored Communications Act.
