LinkedIn, the professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, has suspended the processing of UK users' data for training its artificial intelligence (AI) models. This decision comes in response to concerns raised by the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) regarding the company's approach to using personal information for AI development.
The ICO expressed satisfaction with LinkedIn's decision to halt its AI model training using UK users' data. Stephen Almond, executive director of regulatory risk at the ICO, welcomed LinkedIn's confirmation of the suspension and stated that the office would continue to monitor companies offering generative AI capabilities to ensure adequate safeguards are in place to protect UK users' information rights.
This development follows LinkedIn's recent admission that it had been training its AI on users' data without explicit consent, as part of an updated privacy policy effective September 18, 2024. The company has now clarified that it is not enabling AI training on member data from the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom until further notice. For users outside Europe, LinkedIn has provided an opt-out option in the account settings.
The incident highlights the growing scrutiny of AI practices, particularly concerning the use of personal data for training large language models. It also coincides with a recent US Federal Trade Commission report criticizing major social media and video streaming platforms for extensive user surveillance, inadequate privacy controls, and insufficient safeguards for younger users. As AI technology continues to advance, the balance between innovation and user privacy remains a critical concern for regulators and tech companies alike.
The ICO expressed satisfaction with LinkedIn's decision to halt its AI model training using UK users' data. Stephen Almond, executive director of regulatory risk at the ICO, welcomed LinkedIn's confirmation of the suspension and stated that the office would continue to monitor companies offering generative AI capabilities to ensure adequate safeguards are in place to protect UK users' information rights.
This development follows LinkedIn's recent admission that it had been training its AI on users' data without explicit consent, as part of an updated privacy policy effective September 18, 2024. The company has now clarified that it is not enabling AI training on member data from the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom until further notice. For users outside Europe, LinkedIn has provided an opt-out option in the account settings.
The incident highlights the growing scrutiny of AI practices, particularly concerning the use of personal data for training large language models. It also coincides with a recent US Federal Trade Commission report criticizing major social media and video streaming platforms for extensive user surveillance, inadequate privacy controls, and insufficient safeguards for younger users. As AI technology continues to advance, the balance between innovation and user privacy remains a critical concern for regulators and tech companies alike.