Now all LinkedIn has to do is apologize and work with regulators to make sure this never happens again... thus ensuring no future competitor will have it as easy as they did.
LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
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Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#12LinkedIn's growth, much like Facebook's, can mostly be attributed to the use of its "contact importer," which seems to have been where the 18M email addresses came from. Generally speaking, you should read the fine print when using such "features". I do see an issue with part of this complaint: storing hashed emails and uploading those to use for targeted advertisements. The general consensus seems to be that even un…
An e-mail hash is more specific than an IP address, yet from what I read on HN, IP addresses are considered PII by GDPR.
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#13I wish people would remember that LinkedIn is an evil platform created entirely by dark patterns whenever they idolize Reid Hoffman as some sort of business genius.
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#14LinkedIn is one of the worse dark-pattern based business out there. Their whole business model is based on making connections between people, however unwanted they are. They use any means necessary to get your contact list and abuse it to spam your contacts with dubious marketing ploys and unverifiable claims (someone looked you up! you're missing on new jobs opportunities!). Liars. I've resisted creating an account…
Given that they have been owned by Microsoft for quite some time, how much of their current practice is learned vs inherited? If the latter, why would Microsoft allow this practice to go on?
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#15Now all LinkedIn has to do is apologize and work with regulators to make sure this never happens again... thus ensuring no future competitor will have it as easy as they did.
and maybe "settle" with them "without accepting that they've done anything wrong or admitting the fault."
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#16Now I know why I was getting messages from these pricks. I tried to login and had no account. Scum.
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#17LinkedIn is one of the worse dark-pattern based business out there. Their whole business model is based on making connections between people, however unwanted they are. They use any means necessary to get your contact list and abuse it to spam your contacts with dubious marketing ploys and unverifiable claims (someone looked you up! you're missing on new jobs opportunities!). Liars. I've resisted creating an account…
Reminds me of that mobile popup I always get that tells me to download their mobile app when I'm viewing Linkedin on a mobile phone and I can't move on unless I press something.
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#18LinkedIn is one of the worse dark-pattern based business out there. Their whole business model is based on making connections between people, however unwanted they are. They use any means necessary to get your contact list and abuse it to spam your contacts with dubious marketing ploys and unverifiable claims (someone looked you up! you're missing on new jobs opportunities!). Liars. I've resisted creating an account…
Given that they have been owned by Microsoft for quite some time, how much of their current practice is learned vs inherited? If the latter, why would Microsoft allow this practice to go on?
Much of it certainly inherited, though I haven't used to in years (not because MS bought it) so can't say if it's got worse. When I used it earlier, I'd get so many spam type emails.
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#19I am 99% sure LinkedIN used my IP address to match with my second floor neighbor, despite their claims that they would never use IP address as a connection data point.
I was sharing my wifi for a brief period with my neighbors on the second floor. My neighbor had a new room mate. The guy was from another country. He didn't work in the same industry I do. I didn't have any of his contact information anywhere on any of my devices, and afaik, vice versa. We had no formal contact in any fashion, monetary or electronic communication or any other kind of contact other than passing each other in the hall. I didn't even know his name. He's just one of millions of people who live in my region.
Yet they suggested him as a possible contact.
If they weren't using IP address, they were using black magic.
edit: to clarify, i forgot to mention that i had no linkedin connection to my neighbor, afaik he didn't have a linkedin account, he definitely doesn't have one currently. He was sort of a luddite, barely used his computer, and i don't believe we ever emailed each other, or even had each other's email, I just searched my mail and have record of any.
And I very much doubt my neighbor had any obviously traceable connection with the roomate anyway, at most a phone number and received rent through cash or check.
Re: LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members
#20I am 99% sure LinkedIN used my IP address to match with my second floor neighbor, despite their claims that they would never use IP address as a connection data point. I was sharing my wifi for a brief period with my neighbors on the second floor. My neighbor had a new room mate. The guy was from another country. He didn't work in the same industry I do. I didn't have any of his contact information anywhere on any of…
I suspect that information can be obtained in ways other than IP addresses. Close enough to be the same thing, but enough distance to state, “we’re not tracking IP addresses”, and have their lawyers approve.