LinkedIn accused of sharing users’ messages with firms to train AI

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy LinkedIn is facing a lawsuit in the US which accuses the platform of sharing users’ private messages with third parties to train AI models. The lawsuit claims LinkedIn tried to “cover its tracks” a month later by updating its privacy policy to say user information could be made available for the purpose of training artificial intelligence tools, and through an update to its “frequently asked questions” section which said opting out of the scheme did not affect AI training that had already taken place. open image in gallery A LinkedIn spokesperson told the BBC that the lawsuit was made up of ‘false claims with no merit’ According to the legal filing, the lawsuit seeks 1,000 dollars per user for alleged violations of US law around data storage and California’s unfair competition law. After announcing the privacy policy update last year, LinkedIn confirmed it had paused training AI models using data from UK users following discussions with the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office.