LinkedIn's Covert Data Collection and Espionage Practices

Microsoft is orchestrating a massive corporate espionage operation through LinkedIn, impacting over a billion users globally. Each visit to LinkedIn triggers hidden code that scans users' computers for installed software, transmitting the findings to LinkedIn and third-party companies, without user consent or disclosure in the privacy policy. This practice targets identified individuals, not anonymous visitors, making it a potential criminal offense worldwide.

Fairlinked e.V., an association representing LinkedIn users, is spearheading the BrowserGate investigation to expose this scandal. LinkedIn's scans reveal sensitive personal data, including religious beliefs, political opinions, and job search activities, without legal consent under EU law. Additionally, LinkedIn spies on over 200 competitor products, mapping out customer lists from users' browsers clandestinely.

Despite being designated as a regulated gatekeeper by the EU under the Digital Markets Act, LinkedIn has deceived regulators by offering limited API access while secretly expanding its surveillance capabilities. The scan list has grown significantly, targeting users of third-party tools that the regulation intended to protect.

LinkedIn also employs invisible tracking elements from HUMAN Security and Google, setting cookies and executing scripts without user knowledge. Fairlinked e.V. calls for public support and funding to hold Microsoft accountable, as they face a formidable opponent with vast resources.