Story perspectives

LinkedIn Faces Class-Action Over InMail Privacy Violations

1/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

LinkedIn is under fire as Premium users file a class-action lawsuit, accusing the platform of sharing their private InMail messages with third parties for AI training without consent. The lawsuit alleges that LinkedIn's privacy settings automatically enrolled users in data sharing, a move they later justified with policy changes. LinkedIn vehemently denies these claims, labeling them as unfounded.

History

Historical Context

LinkedIn's class-action lawsuit echoes historical privacy concerns dating back to the 1960s, when the U.S. began addressing data protection amid rising technology. Unlike the EU's stringent regulations like GDPR, the U.S. lacks a comprehensive federal privacy law, relying on sector-specific measures. This lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between user consent and corporate data practices, reminiscent of past privacy scandals that prompted calls for reform.

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Story summary

LinkedIn is under fire as Premium users file a class-action lawsuit, accusing the platform of sharing their private InMail messages with third parties for AI training without consent. The lawsuit alleges that LinkedIn's privacy settings automatically enrolled users in data sharing, a move they later justified with policy changes. LinkedIn vehemently denies these claims, labeling them as unfounded.

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