LinkedIn's AI training plans are back, but not all users are treated equally

LinkedIn's AI training settings don't affect all users equally. Did you notice that LinkedIn will share UK users' data with Microsoft, but not EEA users? 

In this video, Rob looks at the background, the broader context, and the details.

LinkedIn first floated the idea of training its AI models on users' personal data last summer and has since encountered several bumps in the road.

Complaints were submitted to regulators in Ireland and the UK, and the company responded by putting the project on hold for EEA and UK users in September 2024.

Incidentally, the EDPB published an opinion in December on the use of "legitimate interests" to train AI models. The Board did not rule out that this could be lawful on a case-by-case basis, with safeguards attached, and people's reasonable expectations taken into account.

--

Other social media platforms have met with similar issues.

Meta's AI training saga is too complicated to recount here in full, but suffice to say that the company also paused and has now resumed its policy of relying on "legitimate interests" for this processing.

X faced court action from the Irish DPC and gave an undertaking confirming that it would not use EU users' data in this way.

--

There are some interesting details around how LinkedIn plans to share data with Microsoft:

• UK: Profile data and public content may be shared with Microsoft for model training, unless the user opts out.

• EU/EEA/Switzerland: The data will be used by LinkedIn itself for AI training, but there's no mention of any sharing with Microsoft.

• Canada/Hong Kong: There's a much more expansive approach to sharing data with Microsoft, including for advertising purposes (profile data, feed activity, ad engagement), but there's an opt-out available.

• Other countries (including the US): There's no explicit opt-out. If you don't like it, close your account.

--

As a LinkedIn user, you have until 3 November to opt out. If you opted out the last time LinkedIn tried this, check your settings.

As a data protection professional, you now have another interesting test case about whether "legitimate interests" will stand up for large-scale AI training.