LinkedIn suspends collecting Hong Kong users’ data for GenAI: privacy watchdog
Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data earlier raised concerns about the social media platform’s default opt-in use of the data
Professional networking platform LinkedIn has suspended collecting Hong Kong users’ data for its generative artificial intelligence model after the city’s privacy watchdog hit out at the Microsoft-owned site.
The Office for the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) said on Tuesday that LinkedIn had responded to its inquiries over a default opt-in setting for Hong Kong users’ data to be gathered for purposes including training AI models “used for content generation”.
“The PCPD received a response from LinkedIn [on Monday] confirming that it has paused any use of Hong Kong users’ personal data for such purposes as of October 11, 2024 while the PCPD’s concerns are being addressed,” a spokesman said.
The social media platform told the Post earlier this month that it had begun to inform users of the new feature through multiple channels, though it was unclear when LinkedIn introduced this.
In its reply, it highlighted a September 18 blog post where its senior vice-president and general counsel Blake Lawit shared that the firm had included “training AI models used for content generation (generative AI)” among the uses of data gathered.
Users would have to manually opt-out of providing their information on LinkedIn to train their generative AI models. They could do so at the “Data Privacy” page of their account by selecting “Data for Generative AI Improvement” and revoking their permission.
LinkedIn had suspended its collection of United Kingdom users’ data last month after the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK’s privacy regulator, voiced concerns.
