Business social network LinkedIn has announced they are to suspend the use of UK user data for training their artificial intelligence models. The decision comes after a change to the platform’s user agreement. Without advance warning, all users had been opted-in to allow their data to be used for AI training. LinkedIn did provide an opt-out mechanism to account settings, but many users complained the process was difficult and lacked transparency.

The change caused a significant backlash and raised a query from the Information Commissioner’s Office (the body tasked with protecting individual data privacy in the UK). LinkedIn has subsequently agreed to suspend the use of UK users’ data for AI training.

What is the controversy?

Artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT must be ‘trained’ in order to deliver useful results. The reasons these systems can generate human-like responses is because they have been given millions of data points to learn from. 

Some people find this process quite controversial. AI systems can take existing work, repurpose it and present it as original. Many AI systems, such as ChatGPT, do not properly acknowledge their sources either. Many content creators, such as writers and artists, believe that their work is being stolen and plagiarized during AI training. And they are not compensated for their losses.

Many of the complaints raised by LinkedIn users echoed these concerns. Some LinkedIn creators expend a lot of time and energy crafting detailed and informative posts for their followers. And they are, rightly, concerned that their efforts would be used by LinkedIn – without giving them any credit or payment.

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But why does LinkedIn want to use user data in this way?

LinkedIn explained that their machine learning program is intended to improve their generative AI offerings. They want to help LinkedIn users create more effective resumés faster for instance. The social network argues that without access to their users’ data for training, their systems will be less effective.

As a result of the ICO’s intervention, LinkedIn has suspended the use of UK user data for model training. It is highly likely that this situation is only temporary while they develop a more transparent opt-out mechanism that satisfies the ICO.

For UK users concerned about privacy and their personal information, this means closely watching updates issued by LinkedIn. All users should expect to receive an update in the near future explaining what is changing – and how to opt out of AI training.