LinkedIn Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Data Use for AI Training
A proposed class-action lawsuit filed on Tuesday night accuses LinkedIn of secretly altering its privacy settings and policies to allow customer data to be used for AI training. Filed on behalf of millions of LinkedIn Premium users, the complaint alleges that the platform quietly introduced a privacy setting last August, enabling users to opt in or out of data sharing.
According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn then discreetly updated its privacy policy on September 18, stating that user data could be used to train AI models. A linked FAQ further clarified that opting out would not affect data already used for AI training.
The complaint claims this move was an attempt to “cover its tracks,” suggesting LinkedIn knowingly violated user privacy and its commitment to using personal data solely for platform improvements, all while seeking to minimize legal and public scrutiny.
Filed in federal court in San Jose, California, the lawsuit represents LinkedIn Premium users who sent or received InMail messages and had their private information shared with third parties for AI training before September 18. It seeks unspecified damages for breach of contract, violations of California’s unfair competition law, and $1,000 per person for violations of the federal Stored Communications Act.
About The Author
