LinkedIn faces a lawsuit alleging it improperly used private InMail messages from Premium members to train AI models and provided that data to third parties. Filed by Alessandro De La Torre in California federal court, the suit claims LinkedIn violated its Subscription Agreement by failing to uphold its privacy promises to paying subscribers.
The controversy stems from policy changes LinkedIn introduced in 2023. The company rolled out a feature titled “Data for Generative AI Improvement,” which allowed the platform to use user-generated content to train AI models.
This default-enabled setting applied to U.S. customers, while those in regions like the EU, Canada, and China were exempt. LinkedIn has faced backlash for not automatically excluding sensitive private InMail data from this practice.
According to the lawsuit, LinkedIn assured Premium users—subscribers to tiers like Premium Career and Sales Navigator—that it would protect their private communications. Yet, the legal team argues LinkedIn failed to clarify whether it used InMail data for AI purposes. The lawsuit cites LinkedIn’s lack of a public denial as a key concern, implying the platform sought to conceal its actions.
In response, LinkedIn firmly denied the claims, calling them “false” and baseless. The company emphasized that it adheres to ethical standards in handling user data and complies with contractual obligations.
This legal battle highlights growing concerns over data ethics and privacy in the AI era. As businesses expand their reliance on AI technologies, maintaining transparency and safeguarding user trust have become essential to navigating these challenges effectively.
