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

On Thu, 19 Sept 2024 at 22:30, Mwendwa Kivuva via KICTANet <
[email protected]> wrote:

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> On Thu, 19 Sept 2024 at 12:52, Ali Hussein via KICTANet <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> The double-edged sword here is this: Most data used to train AI models
>> are Western Data, which creates the biases we see in AI. So, do we continue
>> to be excluded from AI models?
>>
>
> Another reality is that AI platforms are billions of dollars industry. Do
> they continue to profit from our data for free? Is there a win-win
> situation where it’s not just extraction but shared prosperity?
>
>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> *Ali Hussein*
>>
>> Fintech | Digital Transformation
>>
>>
>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>
>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>
>> LinkedIn: Ali’s Profile <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>> <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
>> mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>> organizations that I work with.
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 19, 2024 at 2:48 PM Jacinta Wothaya via KICTANet <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear listers,
>>>
>>> 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>*
>>>
>>>
>>>