LinkedIn's Covert Surveillance Operation Exposes Billions of Users' Sensitive Data

LinkedIn has conducted systematic, unauthorized scanning of over one billion users' computers to collect sensitive personal data including religious beliefs, political affiliations, disabilities, and job search activities—information prohibited under EU law. Beyond privacy violations, the company extracted customer lists of thousands of software companies through covert surveillance, engaging in large-scale corporate espionage using employer information it possesses. This revelation exposes critical gaps in platform accountability and regulatory enforcement in the digital age.