LinkedIn, a US-based professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, is facing multiple lawsuits in the United States over allegations that it collected user data through browser extension tracking without proper disclosure, according to legal filings and reports.
The lawsuits were filed in a California federal court and claim that LinkedIn deployed code on its website that scans users’ browsers to identify installed extensions. Plaintiffs allege that this activity occurred without their knowledge or consent and involved collecting both extension data and device-related information.
According to the complaints, the code is described as client-side software that runs when users access LinkedIn, enabling the platform to detect specific browser extensions by checking for unique identifiers. The filings state that the collected data may include information that could reveal details about a user’s professional tools, interests, or activities, depending on the extensions installed.
The lawsuits argue that LinkedIn’s actions may violate several privacy laws, including the California Invasion of Privacy Act and the California Consumer Privacy Act. Plaintiffs claim that the data collection was not adequately disclosed and did not include a clear opt-in mechanism.
The legal action follows the publication of a report known as “BrowserGate,” produced by Fairlinked e.V., an association representing LinkedIn users and third-party tool developers. The report alleges that LinkedIn scanned for thousands of browser extensions and linked that information to identifiable user profiles.
LinkedIn has responded to the allegations by stating that its systems are designed to detect and prevent unauthorized data scraping and abuse of its platform. The company has said that extension detection is part of its anti-fraud and security measures and has disputed claims that it uses the data for other purposes.
The lawsuits also reference concerns that such tracking could expose sensitive information depending on the nature of the extensions identified. However, these claims remain part of the legal arguments and have not been proven in court.
The cases are ongoing, and no final rulings have been issued. Further developments will depend on court proceedings and any responses or disclosures made by LinkedIn as part of the litigation process.