LinkedIn is set to implement updated terms and conditions that will allow the platform to collect user data for training its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The professional networking giant announced last week that these changes, coming into effect on November 3, will enable them to gather specific user data to enhance the AI features integrated across the platform. Additionally, LinkedIn will begin sharing some of this data with Microsoft and its affiliated companies to facilitate more personalized advertising for users. While these developments raise significant concerns about data privacy, LinkedIn reassures users that they have the option to opt out.
LinkedIn’s Plan for Targeted Ads with Microsoft
According to LinkedIn’s official support documentation, the platform will start utilizing certain user data from November 3 to train its “content-generating AI models.” The company states that this initiative aims to “enhance your experience and better connect our members to opportunities.” Crucially, data from private messages will remain confidential and will not be used for AI training. However, public posts and profile details will be fair game. These new policy adjustments will impact users across the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), Canada, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.
Beyond AI training, LinkedIn is also revising its policies on how user data is shared with its affiliate companies. These affiliates include entities like LinkedIn Ireland, LinkedIn Corp., and its parent company, Microsoft, along with its various subsidiaries.
The global privacy policy is being updated to broaden the scope of data shared with Microsoft for advertising services. In essence, LinkedIn’s strategy involves collecting user data to empower Microsoft to deliver more tailored advertisements across different channels.
The company clarifies: “This data may include your LinkedIn profile data, feed activity data, and ad engagement data; it does not include any data that you do not allow LinkedIn to use for ad purposes.”
How to Take Control: Stop LinkedIn from Using Your Data
Despite these new terms of service that allow for broader data collection, LinkedIn has stated its commitment to respecting user preferences. If you prefer that LinkedIn does not use your data for either AI model training or targeted advertising, you can easily opt out.
To prevent LinkedIn from utilizing your data to train its AI models, you can navigate directly to the relevant privacy settings page and toggle off the feature. Alternatively, from your main LinkedIn profile, tap on your name to open the menu, then proceed to Settings and Privacy. From there, select Data Privacy. Under the section titled “How LinkedIn uses your data,” find and disable the option for “Data for Generative AI Improvement.”
Similarly, to stop LinkedIn from using your data to serve targeted ads, you can go to the advertising settings page and turn off the toggle. As an alternative, go to Settings and Privacy and select Advertising data. Scroll to the bottom to find the “Off LinkedIn data” menu. Within this section, locate “Share data with affiliates and partners” and switch off that toggle.