South Africa to investigate LinkedIn user data breach

Coin World News Report:
According to the South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA), LinkedIn is facing an investigation for allegedly violating user privacy through its new data policy.
In order to promote responsible use of artificial intelligence in South Africa, the country has established SAAIA, a regulatory body responsible for overseeing anything related to relevant technologies.
LinkedIn Accused of Illegally Using Personal Data to Train AI
The social media company is facing accusations of illegally using customer data to enhance its artificial intelligence models.
According to documents submitted by SAAIA to the South African Information Regulator, LinkedIn is using information obtained from customers to modify their AI models, which represent users’ messaging and posting activities on the social media platform.
The text developed through AI will include mentors’ names, as well as work experiences obtained from specific users’ profiles on LinkedIn.
The new LinkedIn policy requires the processing of customer information, enabling the platform to automatically improve its AI models with data uploaded by users. To prevent their data from being used, users must opt out.
Nathan Ross Adams, the Head of Regulatory Affairs and Complaints at SAAIA, stated that their submission aims to address LinkedIn’s handling of South African citizens’ data to train their AI models.
“Given the ‘substantial public interest’ in this matter, it requires an investigation by the Information Regulator.”
Adams
In the documents submitted to the Information Regulator, SAAIA states that the new policy allows social media platforms to process user data without consent for further development of AI models, which is prohibited by the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA).
Under certain conditions, Section 3 of the PoPIA provisions stipulates that personal information can only be processed with the consent of the data subject.
LinkedIn Has Previously Been on the Wrong Side
Nomzamo Zondi, a spokesperson for the Information Regulator, confirmed receiving the complaint from SAAIA and stated that they are investigating the matter.
Zondi said, “Once we have assessed the submissions made by SAAIA in the complaint, we will communicate our decision to the relevant parties, SAAIA and LinkedIn. Hence, the regulator cannot have any preconceived ideas until a thorough investigation has been conducted.”
A representative from LinkedIn, in an interview with the same publication, stated that their platform allows users to choose how their submitted data is used, and they can decline to provide information for AI training.
“We have always been transparent about the choices users have in submitting data to the platform, as LinkedIn has developed its products to some degree through automation.”
LinkedIn Spokesperson
The spokesperson added that the reality is that users come to LinkedIn to enhance their résumé drafts and seek assistance with job applications to attract recruiters for their next significant career move.
However, the spokesperson did not address the consent issue as mentioned in the accusation. This is not the first time that LinkedIn, under Microsoft, has been caught on the wrong side of the law. In similar complaints, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office successfully pressured LinkedIn to agree to stop using UK user data for further development of their AI models.
In other jurisdictions, social media platforms face lawsuits and regulatory pressure. Meta and X are under investigation in Europe for using user data to train their AI models. This is because social media platforms are increasingly relying on vast amounts of user data on their platforms to train their AI models.
Dr. Nick Bradshaw, the founder of SAAIA, stated that his association is assessing whether the delivery of AI tools to the market is being done responsibly.
“Although the competition in AI development is global, the impact of AI can be localized. SAAIA has been closely monitoring the pace at which vendors provide AI innovations, as investors are pouring huge sums to outperform market competitors, but SAAIA must ensure the safety of local users.”