LinkedIn faces complaint over user data handling

A prominent data protection group filed a complaint against LinkedIn in Austria on Tuesday, concerning the professional networking platform’s practice of selling user data.

Noyb, which stands for “None of Your Business” and is based in Vienna, filed the complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority on behalf of a LinkedIn user who is requesting access to his data.

The user is demanding a complete response to his access request, and the group is also seeking a fine to be imposed on LinkedIn.

According to Noyb, the Microsoft-owned platform cites data protection concerns as the reason for its failure to comply with access requests.

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However, at the same time, the company encourages users to subscribe to its paid premium membership to see who has visited their profile pages.

“People have the right to receive their own data free of charge,” Noyb data protection lawyer Martin Baumann said.

It was “unclear” whether the tracking of visitors is legal, as the company does not ask for active consent, Noyb said.

Noyb has launched hundreds of legal cases that often prompt action from regulatory authorities against tech giants.

The group began working in 2018 with the advent of the European Union’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which aims to make it easier for people to control how companies use their personal information.

AFP