LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned professional networking platform, is set to expand its use of user data for artificial intelligence (AI) training and advertising purposes, with changes taking effect on November 3, 2025. Under the updated User Agreement and Privacy Policy, LinkedIn will share additional member data with Microsoft and its affiliates to enhance generative AI models and deliver more personalized ads. This move, which applies globally but with regional variations, has raised privacy concerns among users, prompting calls to review settings and opt out. In this article, we explore the details of the policy update, how it affects users, and steps to protect your data.
LinkedIn’s Data Sharing Updates: Key Details
LinkedIn’s policy changes, announced in September 2025, broaden the scope of data collection and sharing to fuel AI development and targeted advertising. Key elements include:
- AI Training Expansion: Starting November 3, 2025, LinkedIn will use member data and content to train generative AI models, including those provided by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service. This includes profile details, activity in feeds, and ad engagement metrics for regions outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and UK.
- Data Sharing with Microsoft: Additional data will be shared with Microsoft affiliates to enable personalized ads across their ecosystem (e.g., Bing, Outlook). Users in Canada and Hong Kong face expanded ad targeting, while U.S. users see updates in the State Regional Privacy Notice.
- Opt-Out Options: By default, the setting is enabled, but users can disable data use for AI training via Settings > Data Privacy > Generative AI Improvement. Ad personalization sharing can also be toggled off in advertising settings.
- Regional Differences: EU/EEA, Switzerland, and UK users receive enhanced notices under GDPR, with no automatic sharing for AI training without consent.
These updates do not alter LinkedIn’s core AI features but expand the data pool for model improvement.
Reasons Behind LinkedIn’s Policy Changes
LinkedIn’s move aligns with Microsoft’s broader AI strategy and industry trends:
- AI Enhancement: The data will improve content recommendations, job matching, and generative tools, similar to Career Essentials in Generative AI by Microsoft and LinkedIn.
- Ad Revenue Growth: Sharing data for personalized ads across Microsoft products boosts monetization, especially amid rising competition from platforms like X and TikTok.
- Industry Standard: Following Meta and X’s data use for AI training, LinkedIn aims to stay competitive in generative AI, where user data is key to model refinement.
- Transparency Push: While opt-outs exist, the default-on approach mirrors Big Tech practices, prompting privacy advocates to urge immediate action.
How to Opt Out and Protect Your Data
Users concerned about data usage can take proactive steps before November 3, 2025:
- Disable AI Training: Go to Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy > Generative AI Improvement and toggle off “Allow LinkedIn to use your data to improve generative AI models.”
- Limit Ad Personalization: In Settings > Data Privacy > Advertising Data, review and disable sharing with affiliates like Microsoft.
- Review Affiliate Sharing: Under Settings > Data Privacy > Affiliates, opt out of data sharing with Microsoft and subsidiaries.
- Global Privacy Tools: EU users can leverage GDPR rights; others should monitor regional notices for additional controls.
Act now, as changes apply automatically unless opted out.
Implications for Users and the Tech Industry
LinkedIn’s policy shift has sparked debates on privacy and AI ethics:
- User Privacy Risks: Default data sharing could expose profile info to AI models without explicit consent, raising concerns about bias and misuse.
- Ad Targeting Expansion: More personalized ads across Microsoft apps may improve relevance but erode user control.
- Industry Trend: Mirrors Big Tech’s push for AI training data, following Meta and X, potentially leading to regulatory scrutiny under GDPR or CCPA.
- Innovation vs. Ethics: Enhances AI tools for job seekers but highlights tensions between progress and data rights.
The Bigger Picture: AI Data Privacy in 2025
LinkedIn’s update reflects the escalating AI data arms race, where platforms like Microsoft leverage user info for competitive edge. Amid xAI’s $10B raise and Oracle’s $20B Meta deal, data is the new oil, but privacy backlashes—like Meta’s child safety whistleblowers—loom. For professionals on LinkedIn, it’s a reminder to audit settings amid 2025’s tech shifts, from Trump’s H-1B fees to India’s crypto dominance.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s plan to share user data with Microsoft for AI training and ads starting November 3, 2025, prioritizes innovation but demands user vigilance. With opt-outs available, now’s the time to safeguard your privacy. As AI integrates deeper into professional tools, balancing progress with consent will define the platform’s future.
