LinkedIn Lawsuit: Did the Platform Misuse Your Private Messages for AI Training?

Case Overview: A new class action lawsuit is raising concerns about LinkedIn's use of personal data for AI development, alleging the company secretly used InMail messages without user consent.

Consumers Affected: LinkedIn Premium users whose InMail messages were allegedly used for AI training.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

LinkedIn faces allegations of sharing private communications from its Premium members without consent to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. A recently filed lawsuit accuses the professional networking platform of breaching user privacy agreements by using InMail messages to develop generative AI systems.

LinkedIn Secretly Used User Messages to Train AI, Lawsuit Claims

The complaint, filed by California resident Alessandro De La Torre, centers on changes LinkedIn made to its privacy settings in August 2024. These changes automatically opted Premium subscribers into allowing their messages to be included in AI training efforts. This automatic enrollment was reportedly introduced without notifying users in a prominent or accessible manner.

InMail, a feature exclusive to Premium accounts, enables users to contact individuals outside their network. According to the lawsuit, these messages often contain sensitive and confidential details, including employment discussions, compensation agreements, and intellectual property matters.

“Given its role as a professional social media network, these communications include incredibly sensitive and potentially life-altering information about employment, intellectual property, compensation, and other personal matters,” the complaint states.

Privacy Settings Hid Data Sharing Practices

The filing alleges LinkedIn failed to update its privacy policies until September 2024, following public scrutiny and media attention. Even after users were allowed to opt out of future data sharing, information previously collected remained embedded in AI models, the lawsuit claims.

Additionally, the lawsuit states that LinkedIn’s disclosures about how user data was being used were vague, including references to “another provider” alongside Microsoft, LinkedIn’s parent company. It further alleges that LinkedIn did not fully disclose the extent of its data-sharing practices with other entities.

“Moreover, LinkedIn’s own statements suggest that data was disclosed to other third-party providers not included within Microsoft’s corporate structure, heightening these concerns,” the LinkedIn AI privacy lawsuit argues. “Embedding personal communications in the AI models of unknown third-party providers without explicit consent may lead to unintended profiling, biased decisions, and misuse in sensitive contexts like employment.”

AI's Use of Personal Data Raises Concerns

Similar lawsuits have emerged involving companies accused of using customer data for AI development. For example, Home Depot faced allegations last year for allowing AI technology to analyze customer calls without informing those involved. These cases highlight the tension between technological advancements and user privacy expectations.

In the LinkedIn AI privacy class action lawsuit, De La Torre is seeking to represent all LinkedIn Premium users whose messages were allegedly used for AI training purposes before the privacy policy update. This group includes individuals who sent or received InMail messages and were unaware of LinkedIn’s data-sharing practices.

He requests monetary compensation for affected users, along with legal fees and an injunction to prevent similar practices in the future.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: De La Torre v. LinkedIn Corporation
• Case Number: 5:25-cv-00709
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Rafey Balabanian and Jared Lucky (Edelson PC)

Are you a LinkedIn Premium user? What are your thoughts on this lawsuit? Share your opinion in the comments below.