Do you want LinkedIn to use your data to train its Generative AI? How to opt out if you don't...

LinkedIn changed your User Agreement effective November 20th 2024, and as part of the changes, there's a new inclusion related to Generative AI.

If you are in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland, you're in luck: LinkedIn is not going to use your data to train its AI. For now, at least. So you can thank your governments for enacting data protection laws on your behalf.

If, however, you are somewhere else in the world, LinkedIn has rather sneakily opted you IN to sharing your data with 'LinkedIn and its affiliates'. As a default. But you can opt out - instructions follow below.

• That means your profile data, your posts, comments, and articles — all of which can be used to feed a generative AI model that in essence, can use everything you've ever written here for its own unspecified ends.
• That's not something I want to see happen to my data. I want it to be available on my terms, and under my name.

The good news is you can opt out...

Click on this link to check your AI data sharing status on LinkedIn: https://is-in.link/checkai

If you're nervous about clicking my short URL, this is the URL it leads to: https://www.dhirubhai.net/mypreferences/d/settings/data-for-ai-improvement

Once you click this, you will either see an option to switch it off, or see that the setting is not applicable to you because of the geographical area you live in (as shown below).

In my view, this is a breach of trust by LinkedIn

I for one don't want to see my hard-won knowledge being plundered to generate new content for others to benefit from.

The move generated a lot of debate here on LinkedIn when people first learned about it.

What really is disturbing is that LinkedIn has made this change without letting people know in advance, and has automatically opted you in to allow it to exploit your intellectual property. That's a very disappointing breach of trust to me.

Here keeping you visible, legible and credible on LinkedIn.

David

_____________________

David Petherick is a LinkedIn Profile Doctor who since 2006 has been making his patients healthier on LinkedIn by making their presence more visible, legible and credible. If you have not already done so, subscribe to his monthly LinkedIn newsletter .

If you'd like a free 10-minute LinkedIn Profile Microsurgery or want to discuss any aspect of LinkedIn, David is happy to speak for limited hours one day a week. Book your appointment today at is-in.link/chat