Private messages shared by LinkedIn spark class-action lawsuit

A class-action lawsuit has emerged from LinkedIn Premium customers over privacy concerns.

LinkedIn has been sued for allegedly sharing private messages without consent.

LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, faces a class-action lawsuit from its Premium customers who allege that the platform improperly shared their private messages with third parties to train AI models. The lawsuit alleges that LinkedIn introduced a new privacy setting last August that allowed users to control the sharing of their data, yet failed to adequately inform them about the use of their messages for AI training.

Customers claim that a stealthy update to LinkedIn’s privacy policy on 18 September outlined this data usage, while also stating that opting out of data sharing would not prevent past training from being utilised.

The plaintiffs, representing millions of Premium users, seek damages for breaches of contract and violations of California’s unfair competition laws. In addition, they demand compensation of $1,000 for each individual affected by alleged violations of the federal Stored Communications Act. The lawsuit highlights concerns over the potential misuse of customer data, asserting that LinkedIn deliberately obscured its practices to evade scrutiny regarding user privacy.

LinkedIn has denied the allegations, stating that the claims lack merit. The legal action arose just hours after President Donald Trump announced a significant AI investment initiative, backed by Microsoft and other major companies. In San Jose, California, the case has been filed as De La Torre v. LinkedIn Corp in the federal district court.

With privacy becoming an increasingly crucial issue, the implications of this lawsuit could resonate throughout the tech industry. Customers are scrutinising platforms’ commitments to safeguarding personal information, especially in the context of rapidly evolving AI technologies.