On Friday, 20 September 2024, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) confirmed that Microsoft-owned LinkedIn has rowed back on plans to process UK user data to train its AI systems.
In a statement, Stephen Almond, Executive Director of Regulatory Risk for the ICO, said: "We are pleased that LinkedIn has reflected on the concerns we raised about its approach to training generative AI models with information relating to its UK users. We welcome LinkedIn's confirmation that it has suspended such model training pending further engagement with the ICO.
"In order to get the most out of generative AI and the opportunities it brings, it is crucial that the public can trust that their privacy rights will be respected from the outset.
"We will continue to monitor major developers of generative AI, including Microsoft and LinkedIn, to review the safeguards they have put in place and ensure the information rights of UK users are protected."
The move came after privacy experts noticed a revision to LinkedIn's privacy policy on 18 September, including the UK with the European Economic Area and Switzerland, where LinkedIn does not offer an opt-out as the company is not enabling AI training on user data.
LinkedIn made the policy change on the same day that Open Rights Group (ORG) filed a complaint with the ICO regarding its plans to use UK user data for AI training purposes.
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