Thanks. This should have been _opt in_, and not opt out, regardless of any LinkedIn newsletter emails that automatically go to the garbage bin.

Surprised the EU did not make "opt in" the mandatory default for something like this.

Unlawful processing of data is absolutely not “opt out” by default, and simply assuming that “legitimate interest” applies does not mean that you can allow on opt out.

Here's just a quick reminder that if you're a LinkedIn user based in an EU member state, and if you do not believe that “legitimate interest” applies, you can file a complaint with your national supervisory authority (SA)/data protection authority (DPA); see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_data_protection_autho...

Thanks, complaint sent.

Seconded.

I'm not in the EU but I am in Europe. It was on for me.

From my reading of the article, this is Linkedin (an American company) that has decided to collect data about Europeans - the EU is not involved. Linkedin has decided that making it opt-out is covered by "legitimate interests". So I guess the real issue here is that the rest of you just don't get the option - you are included anyway.

I wish it did, but I am not surprised it does not. The EU remains a fundamentally pro-business organization at its core.

Making this feature opt-out is a clear violation of the GDPR. Linkedin claims they have a "legitimate interest" in collecting this data for AI training without consent, but this argument is laughable.

"Legitimate interest" is abused on an absurd scale

Even as written in the regs "legitimate interest" shouts "we are your preference not to be stalked by advertisers or provide us with free training material, but fuck you and your silly little preferences we want to anyway so here have another hoop to jump through", and it is stretched even further from there.

Legislation for the AI slop will take few years probably

Why would they make it opt in? Nobody would sign up for it in that case!

I am not in the EU and it was disabled by default

Thanks. I hate to need to use linkedIn to find a job. This was the cherry on top of the cake.

I noticed some companies ask for a LI profile, and sometimes this field is mandatory. So a few years ago I created an empty LI profile, just saying "consultant" started 20 years ago.

Strangely enough, it wasn't a problem at all. They'd still call me, interview me and make an offer. So I believe people overestimate the importance of LI, at least for some cases.

This is an important issue from me because it's the only so-called "social" site that seems somewhat enforced by the system we're living in, so it has been abused in various ways as people believe they have no choice but to share the details related to their education, past and present employment with the general public.

Facebook for me is much more enforced. A lot of mom&pop stores publish their opening hours on facebook only. Clubs communicate with their members via facebook, so you can't subscribe to the yearly bbq etc without it. Small local sales, events,.... All small things, but death by a thoudand papercuts.

I held out on facebook since last year, but have given in. My wife is my only friend, even if facebook is pushing a never ending desperate barrage of youmightknow mails.

When I applied for my last job[0], they asked for a LI profile - I explained I didn't have one and why (data privacy concerns) on the application.

0. now my current job!

I've definitely seen my coworkers discriminate against interview panel candidates who don't have fleshed out linkedins. They look "sketchy" is what they'll say, one guy routinely compares the dates on the CV against linkedin profile dates and if they don't match flag the person as honesty issues. Also they'll bring up if they don't have enough skill endorsements in core competencies for the roles. I had no skill endorsements so after hearing my coworkers talk about how they check for that I got a few! So aggravating but it happens and people definitely rule out candidates over their lack of visibility on linkedin.

Except it was never a cake to begin with.

And it's not a cherry. It's undigested sweetcorn.

Thank you.