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
Block limits TIDAL investments and closes TBD decision in favor of Bitcoin mining
Jack Dorsey’s Block is reportedly scaling back its investment in TIDAL, the music streaming platform once owned by Jay-Z. shareholder’s letter on Thursday. Block can be shutting down TBD, the corporate’s Bitcoin-focused division that previously got down to construct a decentralized Internet, dubbed “Web5.” These cuts will allow the corporate to speculate in its Bitcoin mining and cryptocurrency portfolio.
“We are reducing our investment in TIDAL and liquidating TBD,” Block said in the letter. “This gives us space to invest in our bitcoin mining initiative, which has good product market fit and a healthy demand pipeline, as well as Bitkey, our bitcoin self-management wallet.”
Here’s the newest effort by the corporate behind the Square and Cash apps to chop costs. According to. Block has laid off employees in recent weeks Fortuneand apparently told employees not to debate board member Jay-Z in emails or Slack messages.
Technology
Crypto CEO kidnapped in Toronto, released after paying $1 million ransom
According to him, the CEO of Canadian cryptocurrency company WonderFi was kidnapped and held for ransom on Wednesday CBC. Dean Skurka was reportedly forced right into a vehicle in downtown Toronto during rush hour and escaped unhurt after electronically sending $1 million (possibly CAD) to his kidnappers.
The CEO of WonderFi is the most recent cryptocurrency star to fall victim to a brutal attack. This is the 171st case of physical violence geared toward stealing cryptocurrency, a security company tells CBC.
Skurek’s company reported results for the third quarter the day before the incident, generating C$41 million in revenue over the past nine months. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s price rose above $76,000 this week, reaching a brand new record high for the digital currency.
WonderFi is endorsed by Shark Tank co-host Kevin O’Leary and is some of the well-known publicly traded crypto corporations in Canada, in response to Cointelegraph.
Technology
Canoo’s latest defeat, stories from Waymo players and what Trump’s victory means for Elon (and his corporations)
Welcome back TechCrunch Mobility – Your central hub for news and insights on the long run of transport. Register here for free – just click TechCrunch Mobility!
The election has only been two days and there may be already numerous speculation concerning the next election Trump’s presidency will mean for transport and technology, in addition to related sectors akin to energy and climate. Many of those questions will take months to reply. We will observe and report on what impact this may increasingly have on the long run of transport.
Early on, we produced several articles that examined who might win, who might lose, and how specific sectors might deal with changes in governance in the chief and legislative branches. TC reporter Tim De Chant provided evaluation on why President-elect Trump may find it difficult to lighten the mood Act on reducing inflationand reporter Rebecca Bellan examined what this victory could mean Elon Musk and his corporations including Tesla, SpaceX and X.
Little bird
A little bit bird told us that Tesla has definitely given up on its $25,000 electric vehicle and replaced it with a robotaxi. The breakthrough that got here in April, when Musk announced that Tesla would unveil its robotaxi this 12 months, got here as a surprise to many Tesla employees who were enthusiastic about the opportunity of constructing a less expensive electric vehicle that their children could sooner or later afford. This change in strategy, combined with mass layoffs earlier this 12 months, led to low morale amongst employees and even some departures. But our little bird says morale is slowly improving.
In other baby bird news…
Just a few little birds told us concerning the launch of electrical vehicles Canoo struggled with executive departures and more furloughs. Just a few days later, before the newsletter was able to ship, our information was verified in a regulatory document: the CFO and general counsel had left, which, amongst other things, resulted within the furloughing of 30 employees.
You can even see these instructions to learn the best way to contact us via the encrypted messaging app or SecureDrop.
Offers!
Beta technologiesstartup developing electric planes for vertical takeoff and landing had an enormous round of funding — 318 million largeand yes, I mean dollars. The Series C financing round was led by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. Fidelity, TPG and United Therapeutics, which can also be a client, joined the round. This brings Beta’s total funding to over $1 billion. Not a word concerning the valuation.
As Rebecca Bellan noted in an article earlier this 12 months, Beta doesn’t wish to run its own urban air taxi network. Beta is positioning itself more as an OEM that may sell aircraft and charging solutions to multiple customers. The company has assured security for customers within the defense, cargo delivery and medical logistics industries – akin to United Therapeutics, UPS, Air New Zealand and the United States Air Force – with plans to launch products in these markets by 2025.
Other offers that caught my attention…
DeepRoute.aiShenzhen-based autonomous driving technology startup raised $100 million from Great Wall Motor. The funding is meant to assist DeepRoute introduce automated driving systems to as many vehicles as possible in China before Tesla launches next 12 months.
Last week we reminded you Waymo closing a $5.6 billion round from parent company Alphabet. Well, Bloomberg spotted the valuation, which their sources say is currently at $45 billion.
Van revised the valuation of Indian passenger transport startup Ola to around $2 billion at the tip of August.
Xavveostart-up coping with autonomous vehicle sensor technology, raised $8.6 million in a seed round co-led by Vsquared Ventures and imec.xpand.
Noteworthy reading and other interesting facts
Autonomous vehicles
Lift announced three separate partnerships — with a startup May mobilityautomated vehicle company Mobileyeand the corporate’s smart dash camera Nexar — all aimed toward gaining a foothold within the emerging autonomous vehicle market. All of those Uber and Lyft partnerships take me back to the hype days of AV in 2017 and 2018.
Electric vehicles, charging and batteries
Ferry said it is going to halt production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck starting in mid-November for nearly two months because it grapples with reduced demand, increased competition and losses in the electrical vehicle industry.
Hurry up unveiled by an Electric camper concept which he describes as “the perfect escape pod,” Ars Technica reports.
Technology and software within the automotive
Reporter Sean O’Kane spoke with Rivian’s software chief Wassym Bensaid on the sidelines of TechCrunch Disrupt and learned that it’s working on an ecosystem for third-party developers that may make more apps available on the vehicle’s infotainment system.
This week’s wheels
This week, I’m reaching out to a handful of TechCrunch staffers who took their first Waymo rides while in San Francisco for Disrupt 2024. I’ve ridden many autonomous vehicles, including a driverless Waymos, so I assumed it might be fun to share a newbie’s perspective.
Venture reporter Dominic-Madori Davis said: “I thought I would hate Waymo, but I didn’t. He drove like my mother. Quite careful, very slow. I felt as safe as I could in the self-driving car, and honestly, I was glad I didn’t have to talk about the weather.”
AI and enterprise reporter Kyle Wiggers said “it’s nerve-wracking, especially when other cars pass us.” Sitting with a shotgun, the entire experience felt unnerving. I expected the worst.” I asked him if he would take one other Waymo, and his answer was, “Yes, but carefully.”
Venture editor Julie Bort went on three rides. She noted that her first ride was somewhat scary because she “turned a bit wobbly in a narrow lane next to a row of parked cars.” He also did not turn right on a red light, which resulted in frustrated people honking. She also noticed that sometimes the costs were much higher than what Uber would charge, and the drop-off locations were strange and just across the corner.
“All in all, it was a fun experience and if the car price is as affordable as other rideshares, I will do it regularly,” Bort told me. “But while it solved one security problem, it introduced others.”
Reporter Amanda Silberling said: “Waymo is like a roller coaster. It’s funny because it seems a little dangerous, but like a roller coaster, you know it’s been tested ad nauseam so it’s probably okay? If I wasn’t on a business trip with a corporate card, I don’t know if I could see myself using it because in many cases it was more expensive than Uber. Overall, I’m surprised at how safe I felt on Waymo rides, even though when I told my friends I was riding Waymo, they made me promise to text them once I arrived safely at my destination. My friends would react the same way if I was alone on the subway after midnight.”
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