Microsoft's LinkedIn Sued for Disclosing Customer Information to Train AI Models 2v6i2x Technology News

LinkedIn introduced a privacy setting last August that let s enable or disable the sharing of their personal data. 191k6m

By Reuters | Updated: 23 January 2025 14:24 IST

Microsoft's LinkedIn Sued for Disclosing Customer Information to Train AI Models

Photo Credit: Reuters 3v6d2p

Customers said LinkedIn then discreetly updated its on September 18

Highlights

LinkedIn was aware it violated customers' privacy, the complaint said
The lawsuit was filed in the San Jose, California
The contract seeks unspecified damages for breach

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Microsoft's LinkedIn has been sued by customers who said the business-focused social media platform disclosed their private messages to third parties without permission to train generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) models.

According to a proposed class action filed on Tuesday night on behalf of millions of LinkedIn customers, LinkedIn quietly introduced a privacy setting last August that let s enable or disable the sharing of their personal data.

Customers said LinkedIn then discreetly updated its on Sept. 18 to say data could be used to train AI models, and in a "frequently asked questions" hyperlink said opting out "does not affect training that has already taken place."

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This attempt to "cover its tracks" suggests LinkedIn was fully aware it violated customers' privacy and its promise to use personal data only to and improve its platform, in order to minimize public scrutiny and legal fallout, the complaint said.

The lawsuit was filed in the San Jose, California, federal court on behalf of LinkedIn customers who sent or received InMail messages, and whose private information was disclosed to third parties for AI training before September 18.

It seeks unspecified damages for breach of contract and violations of California's unfair competition law, and $1,000 (roughly Rs. 86,492) per person for violations of the federal Stored Communications Act.

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LinkedIn said in a statement: "These are false claims with no merit."

A lawyer for the plaintiffs had no immediate additional comment.

The lawsuit was filed several hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a t venture among Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, with a potential $500 billion (roughly Rs. 43,25,275 crore) of investment, to build AI infrastructure in the United States.

The case is De La Torre v. LinkedIn Corp, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 25-00709.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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