The PCPD raises concerns over LinkedIn's default use of data for Gen AI

Hong Kong's privacy watchdog has flagged concerns over employment-oriented platform LinkedIn over its latest privacy policy, allowing its generative AI models to be trained on users’ data and content by default.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) said on Thursday that LinkedIn’s privacy policy update has aroused concerns of data protection authorities in other jurisdictions. The PCPD is also concerned about whether LinkedIn’s default opt-in setting for using users’ personal data to train generative AI models correctly reflects users’ choices. The PCPD has therefore written to LinkedIn to enquire into the matter.

In a conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, the PCPD said it has received seven complaints in relation to data privacy on LinkedIn from October 2023 to 7 October 2024. The complainants were concerned about their personal data being disclosed without consent and fake accounts impersonating them.

Ada Chung Lai-ling, the privacy commissioner for personal data, reminded LinkedIn users to stay vigilant regarding the recent adjusted policy, making an informed decision about whether to permit the use of their personal data for AI training.

The watchdog also demonstrated the steps to revoke the permissions if LinkedIn users are unwilling to authorise the platform to use their personal data for training generative AI models.

In response, LinkedIn told the South China Morning Post that it had started informing users of the change through multiple channels, citing a previous blog post written by Blake Lawit, senior vice president and general counsel of LinkedIn.

"In our privacy policy, we have added language to clarify how we use the information you share with us to develop the products and services of LinkedIn and its affiliates, including by training AI models used for content generation ('generative AI') and through security and safety measures," said the blog post.

"When it comes to using members’ data for generative AI training, we offer an opt-out setting. At this time, we are not enabling training for generative AI on member data from the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, and will not provide the setting to members in those regions until further notice," added the blog post.

Meanwhile, the updates on content recommendation and content moderation practices, new provisions relating to the generative AI features LinkedIn offers, and license updates designed to help creators expand their brand beyond LinkedIn, will go into effect on 20 November 2024.

Don't miss: Hong Kong privacy watchdog issues guidelines as AI gains popularity in market

Back in June, Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has released the city’s first set of personal data protection guidelines for companies using generative AI services, so that organisations can harness the benefits of AI while safeguarding personal data privacy.

The latest “Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework", released by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), aims to help nurture the healthy development of AI in Hong Kong, facilitate Hong Kong’s development into an innovation and technology hub.

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