LinkedIn’s New Generative AI Feature: What You Need to Know

LinkedIn has stirred up controversy by introducing a feature allowing the
platform and its affiliates to use personal data and user-generated content
to train generative AI models
<www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a6278444>. While this move
reflects the growing trend of data commodification in the age of artificial
intelligence, it raises serious concerns regarding user consent and
privacy. The new feature allows LinkedIn to leverage the vast amount of
data generated by its users to enhance its AI capabilities. This decision
is not unexpected; as AI technology becomes more sophisticated, data is
increasingly recognized as a valuable asset. However, LinkedIn’s
implementation has come under fire for its lack of transparency. *Many
users were automatically opted in to this feature without prior
notification*, igniting fears over data misuse. The company has just
updated the privacy policy on its website
<www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy#use> to reflect the new
changes, effective September 18, 2024.

According to LinkedIn’s FAQs
<www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a5538339>, opting out means
that the platform and its affiliates won’t use your personal data or
content to train models going forward. However, this does not affect any
training that has already taken place. Furthermore, opting out does not
prevent LinkedIn from using your personal data for training
non-content-generating generative AI models. Users must object to this
latter use by filling out a separate opt-out form provided by LinkedIn
<nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fhelp%2Flinkedin%2Fask%2FTS-DPRO&data=05%7C02%7Ctviano%40linkedin.com%7C1de2bb57c76840ca36da08dca1bff3c2%7C72f988bf86f141…>
.

The move appears to contravene several important regulations designed to
protect user privacy. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
in the EU, Article 6 stipulates that personal data must be processed
lawfully, fairly, and transparently. LinkedIn’s failure to notify users may
violate these principles, particularly the requirement for informed
consent. Furthermore, Article 7 mandates that consent must be freely given
and can be withdrawn at any time. LinkedIn’s FAQ for its AI training claims
that it uses “privacy-enhancing technologies to redact or remove personal
data” from its training sets. Notably, the platform states it does not
train its models on users located in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, which may
provide some level of assurance for users in those regions.
Similarly, the Kenya Data Protection Act (2019) emphasizes the importance
of consent. Section 26 of this act requires data controllers to obtain
explicit consent from users before processing their personal data. By
automatically opting users in, LinkedIn could be infringing upon these
legal protections, raising significant questions about its compliance with
data protection laws.

Notably, LinkedIn’s recent move isn’t an isolated case but is part of a
broader trend where tech giants exploit user data to fuel AI advancements.
Only recently, Meta allegedly confessed to using all public text and photos
of adult Facebook and Instagram users to train its AI models since 2007
<www.theverge.com/2024/9/12/24242789/meta-training-ai-models-facebook-instagram-photo-post-data>
.

Such practices raise important questions about user rights, data ownership,
and ethical considerations in AI development. While the potential for
innovation is significant, the risks associated with unauthorized data use
cannot be overlooked. Tech giants will continue to push the boundaries of
data utilization, and we are likely to see increasing scrutiny from
governments and regulatory bodies worldwide. Nonetheless, existing laws may
not be sufficient to address the complexities introduced by AI and big
data, and the need for robust legislation to increase transparency,
consent, and accountability in data usage has never been more pressing. At
the moment, it is the user’s responsibility to stay informed and proactive
about their data privacy but we look forward to a time when all tech
companies innovate with user protection as the priority.

*How to Opt-Out of Your Account Being Used for Training Generative AI *

1. While logged into your LinkedIn account, go to *Settings & Privacy*.
2. Click on *Data Privacy*.
3. Select *Data for Generative AI Improvement* and turn off the feature.
4. To stop your data from being used for non-content-generating AI
models, complete the following form provided by LinkedIn
<www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/TS-DPRO>.

Best,

*Jacinta Wothaya,*
*Digital Resilience Fellow @**KICTANet* <www.kictanet.or.ke/>, @*tatua
<tatua.digital/>*
LinkedIn: *Jacinta Wothaya
<www.linkedin.com/in/jacinta-wothaya-510a8b153>*