Technology
LinkedIn collected user data for training purposes before updating its terms of service
LinkedIn could have trained AI models on user data without updating its terms.
LinkedIn users within the United States — but not within the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, likely as a consequence of data privacy laws in those regions — have the choice to opt out toggle on the settings screen, revealing that LinkedIn collects personal data to coach “AI models to create content.” The toggle isn’t recent. But, as in early reported According to 404 Media, LinkedIn didn’t initially update its privacy policy to handle data use.
The Terms of Service have already been published. updatedbut that sometimes happens well before an enormous change, equivalent to using user data for a brand new purpose like this. The idea is that this offers users the choice to make changes to their account or leave the platform in the event that they do not like the changes. It looks like that is not the case this time.
So what models does LinkedIn train? Its own, the corporate’s says in a Q&A session, including models to put in writing suggestions and post recommendations. But LinkedIn also says that generative AI models on its platform could be trained by a “third-party vendor,” equivalent to its corporate parent Microsoft.
“As with most features on LinkedIn, when you use our platform, we collect and use (or process) data about your use of the platform, including personal data,” the Q&A reads. “This may include your use of generative AI (AI models used to create content) or other AI features, your posts and articles, how often you use LinkedIn, your language preferences, and any feedback you may have provided to our teams. We use this data, in accordance with our privacy policy, to improve or develop the LinkedIn Services.”
LinkedIn previously told TechCrunch that it uses “privacy-enhancing techniques, including redaction and removal of information, to limit personally identifiable information contained in datasets used to train generative AI.”
To opt out of LinkedIn’s data collection, go to the “Data Privacy” section of the LinkedIn settings menu in your computer, click “Data to improve Generative AI,” after which turn off “Use my data to train AI models to create content.” You may try a more comprehensive opt-out through this typebut LinkedIn notes that opting out is not going to affect training that has already taken place.
The nonprofit Open Rights Group (ORG) has asked the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s independent regulator for data protection laws, to research LinkedIn and other social networks that train on user data by default. Earlier this week, Meta announced it was resuming plans to gather user data for AI training after working with the ICO to simplify the opt-out process.
“LinkedIn is the latest social media company to process our data without asking for our consent,” Mariano delli Santi, a lawyer and policy officer at ORG, said in a press release. “The opt-out model once again proves to be completely inadequate to protect our rights: society cannot be expected to monitor and prosecute every internet company that decides to use our data to train AI. Opt-in consent is not only legally required, but also common sense.”
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), the supervisory authority responsible for monitoring compliance with the GDPR, the EU’s general privacy rules, told TechCrunch that LinkedIn had last week announced that clarifications on its global privacy policy could be published today.
“LinkedIn has informed us that the policy will include an opt-out setting for members who do not want their data used to train AI models that generate content,” a DPC spokesperson said. “This opt-out is not available to EU/EEA members, as LinkedIn does not currently use EU/EEA member data to train or tune these models.”
TechCrunch has reached out to LinkedIn for comment. We will update this text if we hear back.
The need for more data to coach generative AI models has led to more platforms repurposing or otherwise repurposing their vast troves of user-generated content. Some have even taken steps to monetize that content—Tumblr owner Automattic, Photobucket, Reddit, and Stack Overflow are among the many networks licensing data to AI model developers.
Not all of them made opting out easy. When Stack Overflow announced it will begin licensing content, several users deleted their posts in protest — only to see those posts restored and their accounts suspended.
Technology
US medical device giant Artivion says hackers stole files during a cybersecurity incident
Artivion, a medical device company that produces implantable tissue for heart and vascular transplants, says its services have been “disrupted” resulting from a cybersecurity incident.
In 8-K filing In an interview with the SEC on Monday, Georgia-based Artivion, formerly CryoLife, said it became aware of a “cybersecurity incident” that involved the “compromise and encryption” of information on November 21. This suggests that the corporate was attacked by ransomware, but Artivion has not yet confirmed the character of the incident and didn’t immediately reply to TechCrunch’s questions. No major ransomware group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Artivion said it took some systems offline in response to the cyberattack, which the corporate said caused “disruptions to certain ordering and shipping processes.”
Artivion, which reported third-quarter revenue of $95.8 million, said it didn’t expect the incident to have a material impact on the corporate’s funds.
Technology
It’s a Raspberry Pi 5 in a keyboard and it’s called Raspberry Pi 500
Manufacturer of single-board computers Raspberry Pi is updating its cute little computer keyboard device with higher specs. Named Raspberry Pi500This successor to the Raspberry Pi 400 is just as powerful as the present Raspberry Pi flagship, the Raspberry Pi 5. It is on the market for purchase now from Raspberry Pi resellers.
The Raspberry Pi 500 is the simplest method to start with the Raspberry Pi because it’s not as intimidating because the Raspberry Pi 5. When you take a look at the Raspberry Pi 500, you do not see any chipsets or PCBs (printed circuit boards). The Raspberry Pi is totally hidden in the familiar housing, the keyboard.
The idea with the Raspberry Pi 500 is you could connect a mouse and a display and you are able to go. If, for instance, you’ve got a relative who uses a very outdated computer with an outdated version of Windows, the Raspberry Pi 500 can easily replace the old PC tower for many computing tasks.
More importantly, this device brings us back to the roots of the Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi computers were originally intended for educational applications. Over time, technology enthusiasts and industrial customers began using single-board computers all over the place. (For example, when you’ve ever been to London Heathrow Airport, all of the departures and arrivals boards are there powered by Raspberry Pi.)
Raspberry Pi 500 draws inspiration from the roots of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a non-profit organization. It’s the right first computer for college. In some ways, it’s a lot better than a Chromebook or iPad because it’s low cost and highly customizable, which inspires creative pondering.
The Raspberry Pi 500 comes with a 32GB SD card that comes pre-installed with Raspberry Pi OS, a Debian-based Linux distribution. It costs $90, which is a slight ($20) price increase over the Raspberry Pi 400.
Only UK and US keyboard variants will probably be available at launch. But versions with French, German, Italian, Japanese, Nordic and Spanish keyboard layouts will probably be available soon. And when you’re in search of a bundle that features all the things you would like, Raspberry Pi also offers a $120 desktop kit that features the Raspberry Pi 500, a mouse, a 27W USB-C power adapter, and a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable.
In other news, Raspberry Pi has announced one other recent thing: the Raspberry Pi monitor. It is a 15.6-inch 1080p monitor that’s priced at $100. Since there are quite a few 1080p portable monitors available on the market, this launch is not as noteworthy because the Pi 500. However, for die-hard Pi fans, there’s now also a Raspberry Pi-branded monitor option available.
Technology
Apple Vision Pro may add support for PlayStation VR controllers
According to Apple, Apple desires to make its Vision Pro mixed reality device more attractive for gamers and game developers latest report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The Vision Pro was presented more as a productivity and media consumption device than a tool geared toward gamers, due partly to its reliance on visual and hand controls moderately than a separate controller.
However, Apple may need gamers if it desires to expand the Vision Pro’s audience, especially since Gurman reports that lower than half one million units have been sold to this point. As such, the corporate has reportedly been in talks with Sony about adding support for PlayStation VR2 handheld controllers, and has also talked to developers about whether they may support the controllers of their games.
Offering more precise control, Apple may also make other forms of software available in Vision Pro, reminiscent of Final Cut Pro or Adobe Photoshop.
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