--- title: "Library Groups Say LinkedIn Policy Changes Could Violate Users’ Privacy" id: "47347" type: "post" slug: "library-groups-say-linkedin-policy-changes-could-violate-users-privacy" published_at: "2019-07-24T18:50:03+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T01:43:25+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/07/24/library-groups-say-linkedin-policy-changes-could-violate-users-privacy/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/07/24/library-groups-say-linkedin-policy-changes-could-violate-users-privacy.md" excerpt: "Library patrons have long had access to resources from Lynda.com, now known as LinkedIn Learning. But library organizations warn that a platform policy change could violate both patrons’ privacy and librarians’ ethics code." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AssociationsNow" - "library" - "privacy" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Library Groups Say LinkedIn Policy Changes Could Violate Users’ Privacy The American Library Association is raising concerns about a policy change by a LinkedIn subsidiary, citing its potential impact on library patrons’ privacy. The terms-of-use change would require users of the LinkedIn Learning platform, formerly known as Lynda.com, to have an account with the business-oriented social network. Until now, library patrons could access the courses with only a library card number, [according to ZDNet (opens in a new tab)](https://www.zdnet.com/article/american-library-association-blasts-linkedin-for-intrusive-tos-changes/) . [In a news release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2019/07/ala-urges-linkedin-learning-reconsider-changes-terms-service-impair-library) , ALA said a requirement that library users disclose personally identifiable information runs counter to the association’s Library Bill of Rights, noting that “ALA has long affirmed that the protection of library users’ privacy and confidentiality rights are necessary for intellectual freedom and are fundamental to the ethical practice of librarianship.” “The requirement for users of LinkedIn Learning to disclose personally identifiable information is completely contrary to ALA policies addressing library users’ privacy, and it may violate some states’ library confidentiality laws,” ALA President Wanda Kay Brown said in the release. “It also violates the librarian’s ethical obligation to keep a person’s use of library resources confidential.” She called on “LinkedIn and its owner, Microsoft, to reconsider their position on this.” (Lynda.com [was acquired by LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)](https://www.vox.com/2015/4/9/11561324/three-reasons-linkedin-broke-the-bank-for-lynda-com) for $1.5 billion in 2015. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn the next year [for $26.2 billion (opens in a new tab)](https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/08/microsoft-officially-closes-its-26-2b-acquisition-of-linkedin/) .) Meanwhile, California State Librarian Greg Lucas [urged libraries in the state (opens in a new tab)](https://www.thereporter.com/2019/07/22/privacy-concerns-california-libraries-cautioned-not-to-use-provide-linkedin-learning/) to stop using the service, saying that under the new terms of use, “the user surrenders to LinkedIn the power to share the information contained in a user profile with whoever LinkedIn wants.” And an official with the Connecticut Library Association suggested that LinkedIn was abusing its position as a resource in libraries to increase its subscriber count. “LinkedIn is strategically taking advantage of technology novices, all the while fleecing money from limited library budgets,” said Samantha Lee, chair of CLA’s intellectual freedom committee, [in a blog post (opens in a new tab)](https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=17968) . (brightstars/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/) [#library](https://associationsnow.com/tag/library/) [#privacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/privacy/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoASAE Legislative 2025 Fly-InApril 4, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/04/asae-legislative-2025-fly-in/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F07%2F24%2Flibrary-groups-say-linkedin-policy-changes-could-violate-users-privacy%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !