Hong Kong LinkedIn users urged to check privacy settings as AI training to resume

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has urged LinkedIn users to review their settings on the platform, as the professional networking giant is set to resume using their personal data to train generative artificial intelligence models starting from Monday next week.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data issued the reminder on Thursday, saying LinkedIn had confirmed it would begin using personal data to train its generative AI models starting on November 3.

The updated policy will apply to users in Hong Kong, Europe and Canada.

“Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling reminds LinkedIn users to pay attention to the changes in LinkedIn’s privacy policy and to understand its relevant contents, in particular those relating to the use of users’ personal data for training generative AI models, in order to decide whether to consent to such use,” the statement read.

The watchdog added that those who wished to opt out should go to the “Data privacy” section in their account settings, then select “Data for Generative AI Improvement” to find the toggle switch.

They should then turn off the “Use my data for training content creation AI models” option.