A proposed class action lawsuit against Microsoft’s LinkedIn, which accused the platform of using Premium customers’ private messages to train generative artificial intelligence models, has been dismissed. The lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Alessandro De La Torre, who claimed that LinkedIn had violated the privacy of millions of customers by disclosing their private messages to third parties involved in AI training. The case was dismissed on Thursday, just nine days after the initial filing, with De La Torre voluntarily filing a notice of dismissal without prejudice.
The controversy began in September when LinkedIn updated its privacy policy, disclosing that it shared customer data, including private messages, with third-party AI developers. De La Torre’s complaint argued that this was a violation of the platform’s privacy agreement with users, which promised that personal data would only be used to improve services. According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn’s new privacy policy allowed customers to opt out of data sharing for future use, but it did not address concerns about how previously collected data had been used for AI training.
LinkedIn quickly responded, denying the allegations and asserting that it had never used customers’ private messages for AI training. The company’s Vice President and General Counsel, Sarah Wight, posted a statement on LinkedIn confirming that no private messages had been shared for such purposes. She emphasized that LinkedIn had always prioritized user privacy and adhered to its stated practices.
Eli Wade-Scott, the managing partner at Edelson PC, the firm representing De La Torre, acknowledged LinkedIn’s professionalism in addressing the matter. While the lawsuit was dismissed, Wade-Scott pointed out that LinkedIn’s actions had caused confusion and concern among consumers, given the late disclosure of data-sharing practices. Despite the dismissal, he emphasized that LinkedIn had provided evidence showing that private messages had not been used for AI model training.
In the wake of the lawsuit’s dismissal, users can at least take comfort in knowing that LinkedIn has shown no evidence of breaching its promises regarding the use of private messages for AI development. The controversy surrounding the case, however, highlights the growing scrutiny tech companies face in handling user data, especially as the use of artificial intelligence becomes increasingly widespread. With privacy concerns continuing to mount, it’s likely that this issue will remain a focal point for users and regulators alike.
