Next week, LinkedIn (LNKD.DL) will update its privacy policy to let advertisers sponsor content on the LinkedIn feed. LinkedIn announced the plans to change its privacy policy so as to not surprise its users.
Beyond introducing advertising changes on its platform, LinkedIn will also launch a Privacy Portal, a one-stop shop for users to access all their LinkedIn data. The company says it will also look to "clarify and simplify" the policy's language so that privacy details are easier to understand.
David Jacobs, the director of the privacy project at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said: "Some of the changes could be beneficial, such as giving users better access to their data. I think that 'clarifying and simplifying' privacy policies is usually code for 'giving ourselves the right to increase the commercial exploitation of your data,' but we will have to wait and see."
In the SocialTimes, Forrester Research analyst Kim Celestre also expressed some criticism of the move:
I expect users will be a bit disgruntled over this, especially if the sponsored content populates the news feed with more "noise." One of the attractive aspects of LinkedIn is that the sponsored content and ads were non-intrusive. This changes that.
In its blog, LinkedIn says that giving users "more clarity, consistency, and control" over their personal data remains the company's "highest priority." Those interested can read the company's updated privacy policy when it goes live next week at www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.
