Microsoft’s LinkedIn was sued for disclosing customer information to train AI models Via Reuters

Written by Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) – Microsoft’s LinkedIn has been sued by Premium customers who said the business-focused social media platform disclosed their private messages to third parties without permission to train artificial intelligence models.

According to a proposed class action filed Tuesday night on behalf of millions of LinkedIn Premium customers, LinkedIn quietly introduced privacy settings last August that allow users to enable or disable sharing of their data.

Customers said that LinkedIn discreetly updated its privacy policy on Sept. 18 means that the data can be used to train AI models, and in the “frequently asked questions” hyperlink said from “it does not affect the training that has already taken place.”

This attempt to “cover their tracks” suggests that LinkedIn was fully aware that it had violated customer privacy and its promise to use personal data to support and improve its platform, in order to reduce public scrutiny and legal breakdown, the complaint said.

The lawsuit was filed in San Jose, California, federal court on behalf of LinkedIn Premium customers who sent or received InMail messages, and whose private information was disclosed to third parties for AI training prior to 18 September.

It seeks unspecified damages for breach of contract and violation of California’s unfair competition law, and $1,000 per person for violation of the federal Stored Communications Act.

LinkedIn said in a statement: “These are false and baseless allegations.”

An attorney for the plaintiffs had no immediate further comment.

The lawsuit was filed hours after US President Donald Trump announced a joint venture between Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Oracle (NYSE: ) and SoftBank (TYO: ), which has about $500 billion in investment to build AI infrastructure in the United States.

The case is De La Torre v. LinkedIn Corp, US District Court, Northern District of California, No. 25-00709.