Employment market SEEK has quietly let customers know it’s coaching synthetic intelligence on their knowledge with a little-noticed replace to its privateness coverage.
Customers on social media platform Mastodon yesterday drew consideration to SEEK’s change in insurance policies.
“Search has copied a latest change LinkedIn made, and has determined to make use of your private knowledge for AI coaching … The high-quality print within the Privateness Coverage says they’re going to make use of your knowledge for Synthetic Intelligence / Machine Studying,” wrote person @Damien.Sensible, referring to LinkedIn’s latest AI coaching controversy.
In contrast to with LinkedIn, there doesn’t appear to be an choice for SEEK customers to opt-out of their knowledge getting used to coach AI.
Whereas customers claimed it was latest, the primary point out of AI in SEEK’s privateness insurance policies goes not less than way back to October 15, 2023.
“We could use your info inside synthetic intelligence and machine studying methods to tailor options and personalise your expertise,” the coverage reads.
This coverage specifies a handful of makes use of that embrace (however are usually not restricted to) rating candidates in opposition to one another for job listings, scoring how possible a candidate could be approachable for a selected job, and suggesting inquiries to ask a candidate.
Whereas this can be the primary time it’s appeared in its privateness insurance policies, SEEK has trumpeted its use of synthetic intelligence for some time now.
References to synthetic intelligence may be discovered within the firm’s annual reviews not less than way back to 2017, the place it disclosed it was utilizing AI as “gender neutralising expertise” to determine language in job adverts that may discourage girls from making use of for jobs.
In accordance with its most up-to-date annual report, SEEK’s funding in “areas together with synthetic intelligence … present the chance to take care of market management positions and enhance profitability”.
However the firm additionally flags it as a possible danger.
“Failure to make use of and defend personally identifiable info, or delicate knowledge in breach of information privateness legal guidelines or opposite to buyer and group expectations, could breach buyer belief,” the report says.
SEEK didn’t reply to Crikey’s requests for remark in time for publication.
Would you be comfy together with your SEEK knowledge getting used to coach AI? Tell us your ideas by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please embrace your full title to be thought of for publication. We reserve the proper to edit for size and readability.