Microsoft's LinkedIn is being sued by a premium customer who claims the business-focused social media platform disclosed private messages to third parties without permission to train generative artificial intelligence models.
Last August, LinkedIn quietly introduced a privacy setting that allowed users to enable or disable the sharing of their personal data, according to a proposed class action lawsuit filed Tuesday night on behalf of millions of LinkedIn premium customers. .
According to customers, LinkedIn then discreetly updated its privacy policy on September 18, 2024, stating that the data could be used to train AI models, and a hyperlink in the “Frequently Asked Questions” section stating that there was no way to opt out. It states that “training that has already been done will not be affected.'' ”
This attempt to “cover your tracks” shows that LinkedIn is violating customer privacy and that it will only use personal data to support and improve the platform, minimize public scrutiny and legal repercussions. That suggests he was “fully aware” of the promise, the complaint says.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Jose, Calif., on behalf of LinkedIn Premium customers who sent and received InMail messages and whose personal information was disclosed to third parties for AI training before September 18. .
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for breach of contract and violations of California's Unfair Competition Law, and $1,000 per person for violations of the Federal Communications Storage Act.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs had no further comment.
The lawsuit was filed hours after President Donald Trump announced an expected $500 billion joint venture between Microsoft-based OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank to build AI infrastructure in the United States. .
The case is De La Torre v. LinkedIn Corp., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 25-00709.
