LinkedIn Disables Ad Tool to Comply With EU Rules

On Friday, LinkedIn announced that it had terminated a service that uses sensitive personal data for targeted advertising to comply with EU online content standards

The company responded to a complaint filed by civil society organizations with the European Commission, which serves as the bloc’s technology overseer.

Online intermediaries are mandated to provide users with increased control over the use of their data, including the ability to turn off personalized content, by the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Companies are prohibited from employing sensitive personal data, including race, sexual orientation, and political opinions, in their targeted advertisements.

In March, the Commission requested information from LinkedIn after the groups expressed concern that the tool could enable advertisers to target LinkedIn users based on their political opinions, racial or ethnic origin, and other personal data due to their membership in LinkedIn groups.

“In a LinkedIn post, LinkedIn’s Vice President Patrick Corrigan announced that the ability to create an advertising audience in Europe that utilizes membership in LinkedIn Groups as an input will be removed.”

“We made this change to prevent any misconception that ads to European members could be indirectly targeted based on special categories of data or related profiling categories,” according to him.

Thierry Breton, the EU industry director, approved the initiative.

“The Commission will monitor the effective implementation of LinkedIn’s public pledge to ensure full compliance with the DSA,” according to a statement he issued.

The complainants, European Digital Rights (EDRi), Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF), Global Witness, and Bits of Freedom applauded the LinkedIn decision.