Employment marketplace SEEK has quietly let users know it is training artificial intelligence on their data with a little-noticed update to its privacy policy.
Users on social media platform Mastodon yesterday drew attention to SEEK’s change in policies.
“Seek has copied a recent change LinkedIn made, and has decided to use your personal data for AI training … The fine print in the Privacy Policy says they’re going to use your data for Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning,” wrote user @Damien.Wise, referring to LinkedIn’s recent AI training controversy.
Unlike with LinkedIn, there does not seem to be an option for SEEK users to opt-out of their data being used to train AI.
While users claimed it was recent, the first mention of AI in SEEK’s privacy policies goes at least as far back as October 15, 2023.
“We may use your information within artificial intelligence and machine learning systems to tailor features and personalise your experience,” the policy reads.
This policy specifies a handful of uses that include (but are not limited to) ranking candidates against each other for job listings, scoring how likely a candidate would be approachable for a specific job, and suggesting questions to ask a candidate.
While this may be the first time it’s appeared in its privacy policies, SEEK has trumpeted its use of artificial intelligence for a while now.
References to artificial intelligence can be found in the company’s annual reports at least as far back as 2017, where it disclosed it was using AI as “gender neutralising technology” to identify language in job ads that might discourage women from applying for jobs.
According to its most recent annual report, SEEK’s investment in “areas including artificial intelligence … provide the opportunity to maintain market leadership positions and improve profitability”.
But the company also flags it as a potential risk.
“Failure to use and protect personally identifiable information, or sensitive data in breach of data privacy laws or contrary to customer and community expectations, may breach customer trust,” the report says.
SEEK did not respond to Crikey’s requests for comment in time for publication.
Would you be comfortable with your SEEK data being used to train AI? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
