LinkedIn Caught Trying to Quietly Loop In User Information to Train AI

LinkedIn became noisy with angry posts when the company was not fully transparent with users and tried to silently opt people into use of their information for AI. LinkedIn automatically “opted accounts into training generative AI models” prior to updating its terms of service and privacy policies. It forced users to dig into their settings and find a toggle switch to turn it off  and any information collected while people were automatically opted-in may be impossible to claw back.  User backlash was swift, with people writing publicly, “Thought you couldn't hate LinkedIn more? You were wrong” and “LinkedIn sucks… it’s about to suck even harder with the help of AI.” LinkedIn eventually updated its privacy policy and provided notice to users. But just like “what’s done is done” in terms of the information already collected, it will also be hard for the company to reverse the loss of user trust for opting people in rather than being transparent and giving its professional user base a real choice. LinkedIn is now facing a class action lawsuit seeking damages and injunctive relief, alleging that the company's actions violated the Stored Communications Act and the California Unfair Competition Act, and breached contracts that LinkedIn formed with its users.