How to stop LinkedIn from training AI with your data

LinkedIn is opting in its users to train generative artificial intelligence; here's how to opt out

Technology / news

LinkedIn is opting in its users to train generative artificial intelligence; here's how to opt out

20th Sep 24, 9:11am by Juha Saarinen

Microsoft Copilot AI's rendition of LinkedIn GenAI training

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is yet another social network that has decided it should not ask its users for permission, and simply opt them in by default and feed their data to generative artificial intelligence (AI) for training.

If you want to opt out of it, look for your profile image at the top of the LinkedIn menu bar and select Me. Under there, pick Settings and Privacy and then, the Data privacy menu item.

Look under "How LinkedIn uses your data" and pick "Data for Generative AI improvement":

It's set to "On" by default. If you don't want that, set it to "Off". How much LinkedIn will respect that is another matter, but at least you've signalled quite clearly you don't want "LinkedIn and its affiliates" to "use your personal data and content you create on LinkedIn" for GenAI model training.

Now, it's entirely possible that this could be something useful, but LinkedIn's FAQ on how it uses your data is opaque and doesn't spell out any particularly interesting benefits to those who remain opted in.

And, it's that last thing that should've happened first of all: a request to join the programme, after you've had a clear explanation as to what the data will be used for, including any privacy implications.

This might seem futile, given that LinkedIn user data has already leaked out in the past, but there's no requirement for you to offer up your new information willy-nilly.

A number of LinkedIn accounts won't be able to opt out by themselves, however. If you look at their profiles, you'll see why:

We live in the future.

Update Britain's Information Commissioner has told LinkedIn not to train AI models on users' content.

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12 Comments

by fleek | 20th Sep 24, 10:07am 1726783662

While we're on the topic of MS's flagrant disregard for its long-term customers and (actually comparatively decent) past ethics, if you find yourself getting "friend" recommendations on Facebook for people you haven't done business with in the past 2 decades, consider how long your Microsoft Exchange or other email service has been running through them.

Even if Outlook won't let you delve anywhere near that far into your inbox, there's no limit to how deep your data can be mined. It's not just IRD using hashing to sell these connections to social media companies (without actually selling them) - your entire history on the Internet is being milked too.

It is a heinous time to be online, especially with government too inept and riddled with luddites to effectively legislate.

by interesting1234 | 20th Sep 24, 10:19am 1726784343

Makes me glad to have grown up knowing what life was like just before the rise of the home PC. Simple, and where human interaction was a requirement, not so much as a choice as it is today.

by Juha Saarinen | 20th Sep 24, 10:46am 1726786005

I've thought about that aspect a lot, and feel it's the opposite in many ways. As in almost too much human interaction nowadays, a much larger circle of friends who are widely dispersed than what would be the case in the past, and much of it happening in near real time which can be overwhelming to some.

by interesting1234 | 20th Sep 24, 12:03pm 1726790623

Interesting sentiment. I have friends all over the world and country, of whom I keep in touch with at varying times. It is easier to do this via technology, however the counter argument is that the impact of social media on the growing brain and prevalence of anxiety and depression in the youth, self esteem issues which have always been there, but I'd argue have been amplified by an order of magnitude by social media. This increase in anxiety for example, can lead to being overwhelmed more easily from stimuli that would not for others who do not suffer so much with it.

by singautim | 20th Sep 24, 1:13pm 1726794789

Douglas Adam's predicted it but the wrong way round, with Marvin the Paranoid Android and the hedonistic, irresponsible, self-centered Zaphod Beeblebrox.

by M0ralHazard | 20th Sep 24, 2:47pm 1726800430

I find it is a much larger circle of more superficial interactions these days, compared to a smaller circle with deeper connections in the past. But that could just be part of getting older?

by Hamish | 20th Sep 24, 11:12am 1726787569

I agree. I remember a time when you'd organise the catch up with your mates on a Friday night.

Pub #1 is x. If you're late then pub #2 will be y. And when you did catch up, you'd be talking and looking each other in the eye.

It baffles me seeing how few kids are in the street after the end of the school day now or in the weekends.

by Noncents | 20th Sep 24, 10:12am 1726783958

We really need some simple legislation where privacy is default.

Anything other than 100% private must be opt in.

Every second day I get a notification from some system/software/company that they are changing their privacy settings...always to my detriment. Requiring constant monitoring to ensure everything is off.

I find with most things now it is easier just to cease using them and delete my account.

by Laser_Eye_Kiwi | 20th Sep 24, 10:27am 1726784842

Thanks for that articale. Turned the "feature" off.

by Averageman | 20th Sep 24, 10:53am 1726786428

Awesome that they default to "on" as in all thing benefiting them.

by The_Golem | 20th Sep 24, 1:59pm 1726797561

And this is why I'm quietly picking up ever more paid services that offer real security: my email, VPN, cloud storage, calendar and docs are now all paid and end-to-end secured.

LinkedIn is the only 'social' website I now use as it's difficult to avoid for business, and the others, to quote a young friend: 'are like getting a far too long hug from a sweaty uncle.'

As someone who was been using the web for all sorts of informational, commercial and design things for around 30 years, it's all profoundly disappointing, considering the early potential.

It still might be salvageable, but would require the content we provide being equitably valued: the idea of 'free' on the web looks to have been a mistake as if nothing has value, everything is free to be taken.

Read Jaron Lanier - one of the parents of VR (among a bunch of other stuff) - for a possible way out - and article here from Harvard Business School.

by Firstclass | 20th Sep 24, 4:39pm 1726807188

Opted out, thank you Juha !