LinkedIn, AI, and your data

Qudos AI

What's happening with LinkedIn, AI, and your data?

October 2024.

The business and employment-focused social media platform LinkedIn is in the process of updating its user agreement. They recently sent an email to users advising about Updates to the User Agreement, which are effective on November 20, 2024.

However, a section like this has already been included in LinkedIn profile Settings and Privacy area:

Data for Generative AI Improvement

  • Can LinkedIn and its affiliates use your personal data and content you create on LinkedIn to train generative AI models that create content?

Use my data for training content creation AI models – On / Off.

The default is On. That is unless you are a user from certain countries. The approach doesn't seem to sit well with the UKs ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) who have raised concerns. The model training has been suspended by LinkedIn for users in UK, the EEA (European Economic Area - which includes the EU countries, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), and Hong Kong.

Stephen Almond, UK ICO Executive Director Regulatory Risk, said:

"We are pleased that LinkedIn has reflected on the concerns we raised about its approach to training generative AI models with information relating to its UK users. We welcome LinkedIn’s confirmation that it has suspended such model training pending further engagement with the ICO. In order to get the most out of generative AI and the opportunities it brings, it is crucial that the public can trust that their privacy rights will be respected from the outset”.

If AI gets something wrong, that's your problem (?)

A number of articles have been published on the topic including this one by Thomas Claburn in The Register.

LinkedIn: If our AI gets something wrong, that's your problem (msn.com)

He points out that LinkedIn will provide features that can produce automated content, but that content may be inaccurate. He considers that users are expected to review and correct false information before sharing said content, because LinkedIn won't be held responsible for any consequences.

So, the concerns raised by the UK ICO and commentators seem to relate to a) privacy rights, and b) responsibility for any incorrect information. As the data being used would include personal data from a user's profile information, the first point is fairly obvious. That second point may become increasingly relevant in the light of misinformation and disinformation legislation being proposed in countries like Australia. What (if any) responsibility could an original content creator have if their content is then used in AI generated content that is subsequently considered to be misinformation or disinformation?

LinkedIn FAQs

LinkedIn has published a series of FAQs on the topic. They are are available here:

LinkedIn and generative AI (GAI) FAQs | LinkedIn Help

What will you do about AI and your data?

Unless you are in one of those countries listed above, individual LinkedIn users will need to decide whether to opt out or stay opted in. The selection is made in Settings / Data Privacy.

On a broader note, generative AI is increasingly becoming a part of everyday business life, and it brings many opportunities for productivity. Your organisation may be developing an AI solution or just using AI deployed by other organisations e.g. to help write marketing copy, create training material, or to make decisions. Whichever is the case for you, now is the time to consider putting controls in place to mitigate and manage the risks that it may pose. For many, that may include expanding on existing Quality and Information Security management systems to incorporate AI governance, policy and controls.

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