LinkedIn, controlled by Microsoft, was sued by “premium” users who claimed the professional-focused social media platform disclosed their private messages to third parties without permission to train generative artificial intelligence models.
According to a proposed class action lawsuit filed Tuesday night on behalf of millions of LinkedIn Premium customers, the social network quietly introduced a privacy setting last August that allows users to turn on or off the sharing of their personal data. .
Customers said LinkedIn then quietly updated its privacy policy on September 18, 2024 to say the data could be used to train AI models, and in a “Frequently Asked Questions” link said the deactivation “does not affect the training that has already occurred.”
This attempt to “cover its tracks” suggests that LinkedIn was “fully aware” that it violated customer privacy and its promise to only use personal data to support and improve its platform, to minimize public attention and legal consequences, it says the complaint.
The lawsuit was filed in California federal court on behalf of LinkedIn Premium customers who sent or received InMail messages and whose private information was disclosed to third parties for AI training before September 18.
The suit seeks unspecified damages for breach of contract and violations of California’s unfair competition law, and $1,000 per person for violations of U.S. law.
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Microsoft did not comment on the matter this Wednesday. A lawyer for the plaintiffs did not comment.
The lawsuit was filed several hours after US President Donald Trump announced a joint venture between OpenAI – which is backed by Microsoft – Oracle and SoftBank, with a potential investment of $500 billion to build AI infrastructure in the country. .