LinkedIn has halted training AI models using users’ personal data in the UK as the social media platform succumbed to pressure from regulators. Regulators in the UK raised concerns over LinkedIn’s alleged breach of data privacy.
Recently, the Microsoft-owned social networking platform began scrapping off user data to train its AI models without their consent. A few days later, LinkedIn stopped.
Regulators sounded an alarm at LinkedIn
Nearly a week ago, the business and career-focused social networking site published a post that showed that it was now using users’ data to train AI models. However, chances were high that many users were not aware of this development, and that their data, posts, and content were being used by the platform including its affiliates to train their AI models.
Although LinkedIn did not specify its affiliates, the social network site is owned by Microsoft, which also has ties with ChatGPT maker OpenAI.
Regulators in the UK raised legal concerns, forcing the platform to pause the process. Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) revealed it was pleased that LinkedIn suspended using UK user’s information to train its AI models.
“We are pleased that LinkedIn has reflected on the concerns we raised about its approach to training generative AI models with information relating to its UK users.”
ICO executive director, Stephen Almond.
“In order to get the most out of generative AI and the opportunities it brings, it is crucial that the public can trust that their privacy rights will be respected from the outset,” added Almond.
According to BBC News, LinkedIn indicated it was receptive to the idea of engaging the ICO. While the platform halted training models using UK users’ data, it is scraping US user data by default.
Social networking sites like LinkedIn turn to platforms for data
Recently, Facebook’s parent company Meta Platforms was also forced to pause training its AI models using user data in the UK. The social media giant however later revealed it would resume the process and use data in the UK and Brazil to train its AI models.
This comes as tech giants, including LinkedIn, are looking at user-generated content from their platforms to train their generative AI models, which use vast amounts of data.
However, a LinkedIn spokesperson told the BBC News that the social networking platform in users having control over their personal data, which has prompted the company to give UK users access to opt out of having their data used.
“We’ve always used some form of automation in LinkedIn products, and we’ve always been clear that users have the choice about how their data is used.”
LinkedIn.
“The reality of where we’re at today is a lot of people are looking for help to get that first draft of that resume… to help craft messages to recruiters to get that next career opportunity,” added LinkedIn’s spokesperson.
The company further indicated in its global privacy policy that user data will be used to develop AI services. Its help article also indicates that the data will be processed when users interact with tools that give post-writing suggestions.
However, this does not apply to UK users anymore, as do the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland, due to regulatory frameworks in these areas that protect user data privacy.
Almond also added the ICO will keep monitoring tech giants to ensure that user data in the UK is protected and not used without their consent.
“In order to get the most out of generative AI and the opportunities it brings, it is crucial that the public can trust that their privacy rights will be respected from the outset,” said Almond.
LinkedIn adds to a list of tech firms including Meta and X that have attempted to harvest content posted on their platforms to train their generative AI tools, but faced regulatory hurdles in the UK and EU that are strict on how personal data can be used and collected.
