Have you checked your LinkedIn settings lately? You might want to, especially if you’re concerned about how your professional data is being used in the digital age. Here’s the pressing question: What happens to your profile information when it’s used to train artificial intelligence (AI)? LinkedIn is now offering its 950+ million users a rare chance to take control of their data. But the clock is ticking—users have until Monday to act. How does this decision affect you as a professional? More importantly, how can you protect yourself?

Recently, LinkedIn announced a crucial setting update for its users: the ability to opt out of allowing their public profile data to be used in AI model training. This policy shift was revealed after growing concerns about privacy and data transparency became more prevalent. While the platform has stated previously that public data could contribute to improving AI tools, such as search functions or recommendation systems, this new option lets users prevent their information from being included in these datasets.

By default, LinkedIn enables this data-sharing feature, which means your public data—like job titles, skills, and work experience—could already be part of training data for machine-learning models. Now, though, you can intervene. But, why does it matter?

As AI continues to advance, more companies are leveraging public information to improve their algorithms. LinkedIn, being a treasure trove of professional insights, serves as a valuable resource. However, this raises ethical and security questions:

• Privacy Concerns: Users may not feel comfortable having their professional details used without direct consent.
• Data Exploitation: Without an opt-out option, companies could monetize public data for their AI tools without any benefit to the user.
• Security Risks: Data used for AI training might be replicated across various systems, increasing exposure to potential breaches.

Additionally, while AI promises improved functionality and smarter toolsets, does this justify using large amounts of personal data, often without explicit user knowledge? LinkedIn’s update might be its response to these concerns and a step toward restoring user trust amid rising skepticism in the tech community.

If you want to prevent LinkedIn from using your profile data for AI training, follow these simple steps. Remember, the deadline to make this change is Monday, October 30, 2023.

1. Log into your LinkedIn account.
2. Navigate to the Privacy Settings under the “Settings & Privacy” menu.
3. Look for the section titled “Data Sharing and AI Model Training.”
4. Toggle off the option for “Use of Data for AI Training.”

Once this setting is disabled, LinkedIn will exclude your profile from datasets used for AI training purposes. While this won’t affect your profile’s exposure on the platform itself, it ensures greater control over where and how your information is used.

LinkedIn’s decision to allow user control over data-sharing for AI models might set a precedent for other tech platforms. With the rapid development of AI technologies, companies will need to balance innovation with ethical responsibility. Google, Meta, and other giants are also under scrutiny for how they utilize user data in AI development.

This update aligns with the principles of data transparency and accountability—a focal point for regulators worldwide. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and similar laws often push for stricter data-handling procedures among social platforms.

For professionals, this raises larger questions: Will other platforms follow LinkedIn’s lead? And how will opting out affect the evolution of AI tools that rely on such vast data pools?

The option to opt out of AI data usage isn’t guaranteed to remain a widely available feature across platforms. LinkedIn giving users agency over their data might be part of a larger shift, but regulatory changes or corporate decisions could alter how these options work in the future. Acting now ensures your preferences are documented and respected moving forward.

Moreover, LinkedIn’s new setting reflects a growing trend of consumers demanding control over their data. Even if you’re comfortable with your public data being used to train AI, the ability to make that choice is a significant step forward in the conversation surrounding digital privacy.

So, what will you do? LinkedIn’s new opt-out feature empowers users to make a choice—one that could influence the broader tech industry’s approach to ethical data use. It’s not just about protecting your privacy today but about shaping how technologies like AI use personal data in the future.

Before Monday arrives, take a moment to decide whether you want to allow your LinkedIn profile to contribute to the AI revolution—or whether you’d prefer to maintain full control over your professional footprint. Remember, choosing to act now doesn’t just affect you—it sets a precedent for accountability and control in the tech ecosystem.

Don’t wait—log in to LinkedIn and make your decision today!