Observed Signal · Sep 18, 2024 · Policy Update · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Negative
LinkedIn Confirms AI Training on User Data Without Updated Terms
LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned professional network with over one billion users, admitted to 404 Media that it uses member data to train its generative AI products. The disclosure is sensitive because LinkedIn's currently displayed user agreement, dating from February 2022, does not reflect this use. Users reportedly found a new setting, enabled by default, that allows LinkedIn to improve its generative AI with their data. Security expert Rachel Tobac criticized the automatic opt-in. LinkedIn says the Terms of Service will be updated 'soon.' The company has introduced AI features for premium users, including AI-assisted post and message writing and an AI career coach, though not globally. The article contrasts LinkedIn's approach with Meta and X, which offer opt-outs, and notes Meta withholds Meta AI in the EU over GDPR concerns.
This story involves a major professional platform (Microsoft-owned LinkedIn) admitting it trains generative AI on user data without updated consent terms, affecting over one billion users and raising GDPR and trust concerns relevant across AdTech/MarTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- LinkedIn admitted to 404 Media that it uses user data to train its generative AI products.
- LinkedIn's currently displayed Terms of Service date from February 2022 and do not include a provision allowing AI training on user data.
- Users discovered a new, automatically enabled LinkedIn setting that permits using their data to improve generative AI.
- Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProofSec, said LinkedIn automatically opted all users into AI training and requires an opt-out.
- Meta and X offer opt-outs for AI training, while Meta withholds Meta AI from the EU over GDPR concerns.
Connected Companies & Entities
5 Entities mapped“The Microsoft subsidiary LinkedIn admitted to 404 Media that it uses user data to train its generative AI products....”
“Die Microsoft-Tochter Linkedin mit mehr als einer Milliarde User weltweit......”
“LinkedIn admitted to 404 Media that it trains AI on user data before updating its terms of service....”
“Meta and X are known to use user data to train their AIs; Meta does not launch Meta AI in the EU over GDPR concerns....”
“Meta and X are known to use user data to train their AIs; users can opt out....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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