LinkedIn Stop Grabbing U.K. Users’ Data For AI Analysis

In a significant development regarding data privacy, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn has ceased processing user data from U.K. users for the purpose of training its AI models, as confirmed by the U.K.'s data protection watchdog.

This decision follows recent scrutiny over LinkedIn's practices of utilizing user data, including profile information and content from posts, to enhance its AI features. The company had been using this data to refine various AI functionalities within the platform, such as its writing assistant and personalized services offered through LinkedIn Premium.

The halt on data processing for U.K. users is a response to regulatory pressures and concerns over data protection. Unlike users in the U.K., those in other regions, such as the U.S., still have their data used for AI training purposes unless they manually opt out. Users in the EU and Switzerland are automatically opted out of this data scraping process, in line with stricter data protection regulations in these areas.

To opt out of having their data used for AI training in regions where it is still permitted, users can navigate to the LinkedIn settings. Specifically, they need to go to "Settings," then click on "Data Privacy," and select "Data for Generative AI Improvement." From there, they can toggle the feature off to prevent their data from being used for AI model training.

The U.K.'s data protection watchdog's intervention highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between leveraging user data for technological advancements and protecting user privacy. Critics argue that powerful platforms often bury opt-out options deep within settings, making it difficult for users to be aware of and control how their data is being used.

LinkedIn has recently updated its policies to include notifications about the use of user data for AI purposes. Blake Lawit, LinkedIn's Senior Vice President and General Counsel, stated that the company added language to clarify how user information is shared to develop and improve LinkedIn's services and those of its affiliates through AI model training.

Despite this change for U.K. users, the broader issue of AI training using user data remains a contentious topic. Advocates like Ido Banai, founder and CEO of VectorField, have suggested that users should receive compensation for their data being used in machine learning training, emphasizing the value of user contributions to AI development.

For now, LinkedIn users in the U.K. are protected from having their data processed for AI model training, but the global landscape on this issue continues to evolve as regulatory bodies and companies navigate the complexities of data privacy and AI development.