LinkedIn’s Data Grab: Opt Out Before Your Profile Fuels Microsoft’s AI!

Hot Take:

Looks like LinkedIn has decided to swap its professional networking suit for a data-siphoning vacuum cleaner! If you thought your posts were just going to impress recruiters, think again—they’re now auditioning as extras in LinkedIn’s AI training camp. Who knew your humble #MondayMotivation post would become a cog in the AI advertising machine?

Key Points:

• LinkedIn is expanding data scraping to include users in regions previously exempt, such as Europe, Canada, and Hong Kong.
• Profile details and public posts are all up for grabs, but private messages are not included.
• LinkedIn will share scraped data with Microsoft and its subsidiaries for AI training and personalized advertising.
• Users have one week to opt out of data scraping before the new policy takes effect.
• Opting out involves changing specific settings related to AI training and advertising data.

LinkedIn’s New Data Diet

Brace yourselves, LinkedIn users! The Microsoft-owned platform is gearing up to feast on a fresh buffet of data, and it’s not just U.S. members on the menu anymore. Starting November 3, our friends in the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Canada, and Hong Kong will also have their LinkedIn posts and profiles whisked away to AI boot camp. But don’t worry, your private messages will remain unread, as LinkedIn is still smarting from a legal spat in 2025 over alleged message misuse. So, only your public self will contribute to the rise of the machines.

From Networking to Data Mining

In an unexpected twist, LinkedIn has decided that your carefully curated profile isn’t just for impressing potential employers—it’s also perfect for training AI models and serving personalized ads. The social network’s new data use terms make it clear that Microsoft and its affiliates will now enjoy a generous helping of your LinkedIn activity. It’s all in the name of delivering those oh-so-relevant ads that we all love. Who knew that your skills in “synergizing operational efficiencies” would one day lead to more targeted banner ads?

Escape Plan

If the idea of your professional persona moonlighting as AI fodder leaves you cold, there’s a way out. LinkedIn has kindly provided an opt-out option for users who would rather keep their data off the AI training circuit. Simply head to your Settings and adjust your Data Privacy preferences. It might be a good time to make “Master of Opt-Outs” the top bullet on your LinkedIn profile. And remember, while you can stop your data from becoming part of the AI craze, there’s no stopping the advertising juggernaut entirely. No personalized ads, but you’ll still see them. The machines need their fuel, after all.

Countdown to Opt-Out

The clock is ticking, and LinkedIn isn’t giving you much time to decide whether your posts should have a second life as AI trainers. Users in the freshly affected regions have a mere seven days to make their opt-out selections before LinkedIn’s digital vacuums start their engines. It’s a race against time to ensure your professional musings don’t become part of an algorithm’s diet. So, before November 3 arrives, take a moment to revisit those privacy settings and decide if you want your data to remain strictly business.

So there you have it, LinkedIn’s latest move to turn your networking endeavors into a feast for AI models. Remember, you have a week to opt out and keep your profile away from the prying eyes of artificial intelligence. It’s time to decide if you want your LinkedIn legacy to be more than just another cog in the machine. Happy toggling!