In early November 2025, LinkedIn implemented a major policy change with substantial implications for professionals and organizations worldwide. As of 3 November 2025, the platform is now using user data to train its generative AI models, and this feature is turned on by default (LinkedIn, 2025).

Initially, this update only affected LinkedIn users in the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Canada, and Hong Kong. However, LinkedIn has now extended this rollout to more regions, including Indonesia.

This means that Indonesian users’ data may already be included in LinkedIn’s AI training pipeline unless they manually opt out. 

While LinkedIn positions this as an enhancement to user experience and job-matching capabilities, it has raised questions around transparency, data control, and the long-term impact on digital privacy.

What Data LinkedIn Uses for AI Training

According to the platform’s updated Terms of Service, LinkedIn now uses the following categories of data to train AI models (PCMag, 2025):

Data Included in AI Training

• Profile details: Name, photo, headline, job history, education, skills, certifications, and location
• Public content: Posts, articles, comments, poll responses, and public discussions
• Groups activity: Public group participation and group messages
• Generative AI interactions: Prompts or content entered into LinkedIn’s AI features
• Jobs-related inputs: Resumes and non-sensitive screening question responses

This effectively means that much of the content professionals actively share on the platform may now contribute to LinkedIn’s internal AI development.

Data Excluded From AI Training

LinkedIn states that the following will not be used (NK, 2025):

• Private messages
• Login and credential information
• Payment data
• Sensitive compensation or application data identifiable to individuals
• Data from users under 18

While these exclusions are reassuring, the scope of data being captured remains significant, given how much professional identity and career-related content is openly shared on the platform.

How to Opt Out

The good news is, LinkedIn provides an opt-out mechanism, though users must actively locate and update their settings.

Steps to opt out:

1. Navigate to Settings & Privacy
2. Select Data Privacy
3. Choose Data for Generative AI Improvement
4. Toggle the setting Off

Once disabled, your future data should no longer be used for AI training (PCMag, 2025). However, LinkedIn’s policy encourages users to periodically review their settings as terms may evolve.

How Social Media Platforms Use User Data for AI Training

LinkedIn is not the only one. Across the industry, major social platforms, including Meta, X, and Reddit, are leveraging user-generated content to train AI models (Machaiah, 2025). This trend reflects several underlying dynamics:

1. Large-scale data collection

User posts, reactions, comments, images, and interactions supply the raw data needed to teach AI to understand language, behavior, and patterns.

2. Model development and recommendation systems

Social media data enables:

• More accurate job recommendations
• Better content suggestions
• Enhanced relevance in advertisements
• Improved generative AI outputs

3. Sharing with affiliates and partners

LinkedIn confirms that it may share certain data with its affiliate companies, including Microsoft and its subsidiaries, for AI and advertising-related purposes (LinkedIn, 2025).

While these applications can offer improved user experience, they raise important questions around transparency, consent, and data governance.

Key Concerns for Professionals and Organizations

While LinkedIn frames this update as a step toward improving user experience, the decision to use publicly shared profile and content data for AI training introduces several broader considerations. Beyond the technical aspects, this shift raises questions around how platforms define “consent,” what visibility users have into these processes, and how companies should respond in an era where digital footprints increasingly influence (and are influenced by) AI systems.

Also read: Customer Consent: The Trust Currency of the Digital Age

For professionals and businesses, understanding these implications is critical, especially as similar practices expand across other social platforms. With that in mind, several key concerns emerge:

1. Default opt-in practices

Users are included automatically unless they manually opt out. This approach may leave many unaware that their data is being used for AI training.

2. Limited transparency

Privacy notices have improved, but most users do not regularly review updates. Subtle policy changes can go unnoticed.

3. Ethical and ownership questions

Professional content (including thought leadership posts, resumes, and career narratives) now contributes to AI models without explicit prior consent.

4. AI bias & data quality risks

Social media content contains informal language, subjective opinions, and contextual nuances. AI models trained on such data may learn unintended biases or inaccuracies (BBC, 2025).

For companies managing sensitive data or brand reputation, understanding these risks is essential.

Protecting Your Data: Opt-Out Options For Other Social Media Platforms

Several platforms now allow users to object to their data being used for AI training. For Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp), users can:

1. Visit Settings & Privacy
2. Open Privacy Center
3. Locate how Meta uses information for generative AI
4. Submit a Right to Object request

This prevents Meta from using your public content to train its generative AI models (Machaiah, 2025).

Conclusion: The Future of AI, Privacy, and Digital Rights

As AI becomes deeply embedded into the platforms we use every day, professionals and organizations must adapt to a landscape where digital content serves not only as communication, but also as input for machine learning. 

The challenge going forward is maintaining visibility, consent, and control in an environment where data policies evolve faster than most users can track. Until our regulations fully catch up, the responsibility lies with businesses to proactively safeguard their digital assets and ensure that employee and corporate data remain protected.

Also read: Comparing Indonesia’s PDP Law with GDPR and U.S. Privacy Rules

At Cisometric, we help companies strengthen their cybersecurity posture through continuous monitoring, incident response, and strategic guidance. If your organization needs support in understanding data risks or building a more resilient security framework, our team is ready to assist.

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Reference:        

LinkedIn Updated Terms and Condition

LinkedIn Is Using More User Data Than Ever to Train Its AI. Here's How to Opt Out

LinkedIn Will Begin Using Your Data to Train Its AI Models

Your AI Training Data: How Social Media Giants Are Mining Your Digital Life