LinkedIn has announced updates to its Terms of Service, set to take effect on November 4, 2025, that will impact how user data is used for artificial intelligence (AI) tools and advertising. The changes will allow the platform to share user data for training AI models unless users actively choose to opt out.
Additionally, the platform will expand the types of user data shared with its parent company, Microsoft, for ad personalization. According to LinkedIn, these updates are designed to enhance user experiences by improving AI features and providing more relevant ads.
Key updates to data sharing policies
Starting November 3, 2025, LinkedIn will share more data with Microsoft to enable personalized advertising across the company’s platforms. The data may include information from LinkedIn user profiles, feed activity, and ad engagement. However, LinkedIn emphasized that this will not include data restricted by user settings.
"Starting November 3, 2025, we will share additional data about members in your region with our Affiliate Microsoft so that the Microsoft family of companies can show you more personalized and relevant ads", the company stated in a post explaining the changes. "This data may include your LinkedIn profile data, feed activity data, and ad engagement data; it does not include any data that your settings do not allow LinkedIn to use for ad purposes."
Users have the option to turn off this data-sharing feature through their privacy settings. If they choose not to, they may encounter more ads for Microsoft products and services based on their LinkedIn activity.
AI training to include more regions
Another significant change involves the training of generative AI models, which LinkedIn plans to extend to additional regions, including the European Economic Area (EEA), Hong Kong, Canada, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. This marks a shift from last year, when LinkedIn had excluded EU users from such data usage after concerns were raised by regulators.
"Starting on November 3, 2025, we’ll start to use some data from members in [EEA, Hong Kong, Canada, Switzerland and the U.K.] to train content-generating AI models that enhance your experience and better connect our members to opportunities", LinkedIn stated. "Our GenAI features can help hirers find and reach you more easily, and assist members in creating content such as profile updates, messages, and posts. This may include data like details from your profile, and public content you post on LinkedIn; it does not include your private messages."
User control and privacy settings
Users who wish to limit how their data is used for AI model training can manage this through LinkedIn’s settings. By navigating to the "User Privacy" section, users can disable the "Data for Generative AI Improvement" option.
This update follows a controversy reported last September, when LinkedIn had been found to quietly use user data to train AI models without explicitly stating it in its privacy policy. After the issue came to light, the company updated its terms to reflect its data usage practices.
As LinkedIn implements these changes, users are encouraged to review their privacy settings to ensure their data preferences are respected. The updates signify LinkedIn’s ongoing focus on AI innovation while raising questions about user consent and transparency in data usage.