UPDATE: LinkedIn issued this statement today:
"Sharing the good news that a baseless lawsuit against LinkedIn was withdrawn earlier today. It falsely alleged that LinkedIn shared private member messages with third parties for AI training purposes. We never did that. It is important to always set the record straight."
-- Sarah Wright, VP Legal
A class action complaint charges that LinkedIn shared its Premium customers' private data with third parties and used it to train artificial intelligence models.
Those messages “include incredibly sensitive and potentially life-altering information about employment, intellectual property, compensation, and other personal matters,” Los Angeles resident Alessandro De La Torre alleges in a class-action complaint filed Tuesday in the Northern District of California. De La Torre explains his motivation here.
The complaint alleges that LinkedIn violated its privacy policy to facilitate the file sharing. And it said the action raises the possibility that “private discussions could surface in other Microsoft products.”
LinkedIn said the allegations are untrue. "These are false claims with no merit,” a LinkedIn spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs in an email.
“Customers’ data is now permanently embedded in AI systems without their consent, exposing them to future unauthorized use of their personal information,” the complaint alleges.
The suit seeks to represent Premium customers who sent or received InMail messages and whose data was disclosed to third parties before Sept. 18.
It seeks $1,000 for each of the millions of Premium customers as well as unspecified damages for breach of contract.
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform designed to help individuals connect with colleagues, business partners, and potential employers. It is widely used for professional networking, job searching, and showcasing career achievements.
LinkedIn allows users to create a profile with their work experience, education, skills, and other professional information. Users can also join groups, share updates, and endorse others' skills. Additionally, LinkedIn serves as a tool for companies to recruit talent, post job openings, and promote their brands.
Founded in 2002 and acquired by Microsoft in 2016, LinkedIn is considered the largest professional networking site in the world, with hundreds of millions of users globally. It is primarily used for career development, business networking, and industry discussions.