LinkedIn has started harvesting users’ accounts to train its generative AI model without asking for permission.
On Wednesday, Microsoft’s self-help network published a “trust and safety” update, where General Counsel Blake Lawit revealed that LinkedIn was using people’s posts and other data for training.
It was reported that LinkedIn started gathering content for its AI models and opting in users before Lawit’s post, and the updated privacy policy only recently.
“We may use your personal data to improve, develop, and provide products and Services, develop and train artificial intelligence (AI) models, develop, provide, and personalize our Services, and gain insights with the help of AI, automated systems, and inferences, so that our Services can be more relevant and useful to you and others.”
However, the data of the users in the EU, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein is not used for this purpose and likely won’t be used in the future.
The published document states that LinkedIn seeks “to minimize personal data in the datasets used to train the models, including by using privacy-enhancing technologies to redact or remove personal data from the training dataset.”
But the FAQ warns that the system may provide someone else’s information if asked in a roundabout way.
To revoke the permission to use your data for training AI:
According to LinkedIn, “Opting out means that LinkedIn and its affiliates won’t use your personal data or content on LinkedIn to train models going forward, but does not affect training that has already taken place.”
