As a LinkedIn user, it’s essential to be aware of a significant change that could impact your privacy. Soon, your profile information, posts, and resume could contribute to training LinkedIn’s generative AI models unless you take immediate action to opt out of this AI training. This default setting is a sneaky way for the platform to potentially use your career insights against you.
What’s New in LinkedIn’s AI Policy?
LinkedIn, which is part of Microsoft, has recently updated its policies to automatically utilize your publicly available data for generative AI training purposes. This includes aspects such as your profile details and activity, with notable features like “Rewrite with AI” being developed from this data. Fortunately, private messages remain confidential, but everything else is up for grabs unless you opt out.
This change initially affects users in regions such as the EU, EEA, Canada, Switzerland, and Hong Kong, with a possibility of broader implementation in the near future.
This policy shift is reminiscent of previous changes made by tech giants, where the primary goal often appears to be enhancing their access to vast pools of data. Microsoft stands to gain significantly from this, using information from job seekers, recruiters, and advertisers to bolster its AI capabilities.
For users, the implications are concerning. The opt-out process is not presented as a choice, but rather an expectation of compliance. This is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy of encouraging the use of cloud services, which prioritizes its control over user data under the guise of convenience.
Why Opt Out? Understanding the Risks
Choosing to opt out of LinkedIn’s AI training is a proactive measure, not merely a paranoid reaction. While LinkedIn promotes the idea that AI will enhance user experience, there’s a risk that your data might train biased algorithms, leading to unfair hiring practices that prioritize networks over qualifications.
Furthermore, the irony is stark: AI advancements are often cited as reasons for job losses, as seen with Dropbox’s recent layoffs attributed to AI. By allowing your data to be utilized in this manner, you could unwittingly contribute to the development of technologies that threaten your own employment.
In my interactions on LinkedIn—an essential platform for job seekers—I’ve learned that sharing professional insights can feel secure until it becomes a liability. The presence of scams and fraudulent activity raises the stakes, as the misuse of your information can empower not only AI models but also malicious actors.
In response to this announcement, many users have voiced their concerns, labeling it as a form of data theft. Some even resort to the drastic measure of uploading fake information to safeguard their real data. However, the most effective strategy is to utilize the LinkedIn AI training opt-out feature before your information becomes irretrievable.
Take Action: Opt Out Today
The process to opt-out of LinkedIn’s AI training is straightforward. Start by clicking on your profile photo and navigating to Settings & Privacy.
Next, locate Data privacy and select Data for generative AI improvement. From there, toggle off Use my data for training content creation AI models. If you wish to object to non-content AI tools, you can submit a form on this page.
I took these steps and felt relieved afterward. No confirmation email is necessary, but it’s wise to double-check that the setting is applied correctly. Please note that opting out only prevents future usage of your data; it does not remove information that has already been collected.
Additional Measures to Protect Your LinkedIn Information
Simply toggling a switch isn’t enough to fully secure your data. Consider enhancing your privacy by enabling private mode to obscure your profile from general searches. Additionally, review and delete any outdated posts or resumes that you don’t want connected to AI algorithms.
If you’re in the EU, you have the right to file GDPR complaints against LinkedIn if they overlook your opt-out requests.
Engage with other users via platforms like Reddit and X to advocate for opt-in legislation rather than this default opt-out approach. It’s crucial that Microsoft moves away from presumptively controlling our data.
Don’t allow LinkedIn to turn your professional journey into a resource for AI. I strongly encourage you to opt out of this automatic AI training today, reinforce your data defenses, and remain ahead in this evolving landscape. Remember, LinkedIn may not necessarily prioritize your best interests.
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