Testaankoop accuses LinkedIn of secretly using users’ personal data to train AI models and files a complaint.

Testaankoop is filing a complaint against LinkedIn with the Belgian data protection authority. This was confirmed by the consumer organization Belga on Thursday. According to Testaankoop, LinkedIn would pass on users’ personal data to AI models without clearly informing its users about this.

Social media companies have gold in their hands. Their platforms are packed with human content. They are very aware of that,” Laura Clays, spokesperson for Testaankoop, tells Belga.

Golden data

LinkedIn added an adjustment to its privacy policy on March 26. Since then, LinkedIn has been using nearly everything you share on the social media platform to train AI models, from searches to posts to private messages, Testaankoop claims. LinkedIn doesn’t communicate this clearly to its users, nor does it give them a way to indicate that they don’t want their data shared.

Such practices are a blatant violation of GDPR law. European data protection law requires that companies must obtain explicit consent from users or another valid legal basis to process personal data for commercial purposes. Again, the user must be given the opportunity to object at any time. The only way to do this on LinkedIn is to delete your account, Testaankoop notes.

It’s Ireland’s turn

Testaankoop is turning to the Belgian data protection authority, but it cannot impose a sanction against LinkedIn. Like many technology companies, LinkedIn has its European headquarters in Dublin, so the Irish Data Protection Commission is expected to take action.

However, this may not be an idle action by Testaankoop. The complaint could raise awareness of LinkedIn’s practices in Europe. If consumer organisations in other European countries follow suit, this will increase the pressure on Ireland to initiate proceedings.

GDPR Wall

LinkedIn is not the first major tech company to violate GDPR law. To train AI models, companies need a lot of data and some consider asking nicely a waste of time. After opposition from European data protection organizations, Meta decided to stop its AI activities in Europe and X has to answer in court.