TLDR: LinkedIn is set to implement new privacy rules on November 3, 2025, allowing its parent company, Microsoft, to utilize user data for training artificial intelligence models and delivering personalized advertisements. The update includes provisions for users to opt out of these new data uses, with regional variations in how the policy applies.
Professional networking platform LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, is rolling out significant updates to its privacy policy, effective November 3, 2025. These changes will enable Microsoft to leverage LinkedIn user data for two primary purposes: enhancing generative AI models and delivering more personalized advertising across its ecosystem.
The policy modifications broaden the scope of data collection and sharing. For AI training, LinkedIn will utilize member data and content, including profile details, work history, education, posts, and comments, to improve its AI capabilities. This data will contribute to training generative AI models, some of which may be powered by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service. Private messages, however, are explicitly excluded from this data sharing for AI training.
Regarding advertising, additional user data will be shared with Microsoft and its affiliates to facilitate more tailored promotions. This means that information about user activity and preferences on LinkedIn could inform ads displayed on other Microsoft products like Bing and Outlook.
The implementation of these changes includes regional variations. In regions such as the EU, UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Hong Kong, public content and profile information will automatically be incorporated into AI systems, though users in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and UK receive enhanced notices under GDPR and may not have automatic sharing for AI training without consent. Other regions, including the United States, will see updates to their State Regional Privacy Notices, but not necessarily changes to AI training in this round.
LinkedIn has provided clear mechanisms for users to manage their data preferences. Members who do not wish for their data to be used for AI training can opt out by navigating to ‘Settings & Privacy,’ then ‘Data Privacy,’ and toggling off ‘Data for Generative AI improvement’ under the ‘How LinkedIn uses your data’ banner. Similarly, users can disable data sharing for personalized advertisements in their advertising settings. It is important to note that opting out will prevent future data use for these purposes, but data shared before the opt-out might still be utilized. Continued use of LinkedIn past November 3, 2025, will be considered acceptance of the new terms.
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This update reflects a growing trend of technology companies leveraging vast datasets to advance AI capabilities and personalize user experiences, while also prompting users to actively manage their privacy settings.
