LinkedIn Lawsuit Over AI Data Usage Dismissed

A proposed class-action lawsuit accusing LinkedIn of improperly using private messages from its Premium users to train artificial intelligence (AI) models has been voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff. The lawsuit, filed by Alessandro De La Torre, alleged that LinkedIn violated user privacy by sharing personal data with third parties for AI training purposes. De La Torre withdrew the case without prejudice in the federal court of San Jose, California, just nine days after its initiation. This action followed LinkedIn's assertion that the lawsuit lacked merit. 

The complaint centered on claims that LinkedIn breached its commitment to use customer data solely for service enhancement by allegedly sharing private messages with external entities involved in AI development. The lawsuit pointed to a September update in LinkedIn's privacy policy, which introduced a new account setting to prevent data sharing but indicated that this setting would not apply to data previously used for AI training. 

In response to the lawsuit, LinkedIn's Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Sarah Wight, clarified in a LinkedIn post that the company did not disclose users' private messages for AI training purposes, stating, "We never did that." 

Eli Wade-Scott, managing partner at Edelson PC and representative for De La Torre, acknowledged LinkedIn's transparency, noting that the company provided evidence demonstrating that private messages were not utilized for AI training. He emphasized that users' concerns were valid but expressed appreciation for LinkedIn's professionalism in addressing the issue. 

The dismissal of this lawsuit highlights the ongoing scrutiny of data privacy practices, especially concerning the use of personal information in AI model development. It underscores the importance of clear communication and transparency from companies in handling user data to maintain trust and uphold privacy standards.

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