Professional networking platform LinkedIn has suspended training its artificial intelligence (AI) models on Hong Kong users’ data in a move welcomed by the city’s privacy watchdog.
LinkedIn halted the use of Hong Kong user data last Friday, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) said in a Tuesday statement. The watchdog last week expressed concern over default opt-in settings for LinkedIn users.
Without directly notifying users, LinkedIn last month began using user data to train generative AI models responsible for the website’s writing suggestions.
Among other functions, LinkedIn’s AI model can use and process a profile’s data to write a user biography, the networking site’s FAQ page says. LinkedIn, a subsidiary of US tech giant Microsoft, uses its Azure OpenAI service.
The privacy watchdog on October 3 warned Hong Kong LinkedIn users of the updates and urged them to revoke permissions if they were unwilling to authorise LinkedIn’s use and collection of their personal data.
“The PCPD received a response from LinkedIn yesterday confirming that it has paused any use of Hong Kong users’ personal data for such purposes as of 11 October 2024 while the PCPD’s concerns are being addressed,” the PCPD said in its Tuesday statement.
AI training halted
LinkedIn’s FAQ page states that it does not “currently train content-generating AI models from members located in the [European Union], [European Economic Area], the UK, Switzerland, or Hong Kong.”
Users outside of those regions are able to revoke permission by unchecking “Data for Generative AI Improvement” in their data privacy settings, LinkedIn says.
HKFP has reached out to LinkedIn for clarification on how data previously collected from Hong Kong users’ accounts will be handled.
The FAQ site states that any information a user provides when engaging with LinkedIn’s generative AI tool will be stored until the user deletes it.
The PCPD said it will “continue to follow up and monitor the situation to ensure that the personal data privacy of Hong Kong users are safeguarded.”
