LinkedIn, one of the largest professional networking platforms, has been collecting and using user data without updating its terms of service. The platform allows users in the United States to opt-out of having their data used to train AI models, but only recently updated its privacy policy to reflect this change.
The AI models being trained are used for content creation, such as writing suggestions and post recommendations. However, LinkedIn is not the only one training AI models on user data. The company also allows a third-party provider, such as Microsoft, to train generative AI models on its platform.
LinkedIn collects and uses various types of data, including personal information and feedback from users. The company claims it uses privacy-enhancing techniques to limit the personal information contained in these datasets.
Users can opt-out of having their data used for training AI models by going to the “Data Privacy” section of their LinkedIn settings menu. However, users who opt-out will still be affected by any AI training that has already taken place.
The nonprofit Open Rights Group has called on government regulators to investigate LinkedIn and other social media companies that train AI models on user data without consent. The group believes the opt-out model is inadequate and argues that users should have to give explicit consent before their data is used.
The use of user data to train AI models is becoming increasingly common, with several platforms licensing their content to AI model developers. However, this trend raises concerns about privacy and data protection. As the demand for more data grows, it is essential that users are given greater control over their data and are informed of how it is being used.
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