LinkedIn - Policy Change
Executive Summary
A California federal judge approved a settlement requiring software companies ProAPIs and Netswift to stop scraping LinkedIn user data, delete previously collected information, and cease using fake accounts to access the platform. LinkedIn alleged the companies created millions of bogus accounts that continuously scraped member profiles, company information, and user activity despite the platform's blocking efforts. The settlement prohibits the firms from selling or transferring the scraped d...
What Happened
On September 21, 2026, a California federal judge approved a settlement between LinkedIn and software companies ProAPIs and Netswift that requires the firms to stop scraping LinkedIn user data, delete all previously collected information, and cease using fake accounts to access the platform. LinkedIn had sued the companies in October 2025, alleging they created millions of fraudulent accounts that continuously scraped member profiles, company information, school data, and user activity including reactions, comments, and posts. Despite LinkedIn blocking these accounts within hours of creation, the companies allegedly created hundreds or thousands of new fake accounts daily to maintain access.
Who Is Affected
LinkedIn users whose profile information, activity data, reactions, comments, and posts were scraped by ProAPIs and Netswift are affected. The settlement covers all LinkedIn members whose data was collected through the millions of fake accounts created by these companies. Under the settlement terms, the scraped data must be deleted, and the companies are prohibited from selling or transferring any collected information.
Why It Matters
This settlement establishes legal precedent reinforcing that social media platforms can enforce their terms of service against mass data scraping operations, even when scrapers use sophisticated evasion techniques like rapidly creating replacement accounts. The case demonstrates that user data shared on professional networking platforms remains subject to platform controls and user consent expectations, not available for unrestricted commercial harvesting. It represents part of a broader pattern of enforcement actions LinkedIn has pursued against data scraping operations that collect user information without authorization.
What You Should Do
Review your LinkedIn privacy settings to control what information is visible to different audiences and consider limiting public visibility of sensitive profile details. Monitor your LinkedIn account for any suspicious activity or unexpected connection requests that might indicate fake accounts attempting to access your information. If you believe your data may have been improperly scraped or used by third parties, you can report concerns directly to LinkedIn's support team through their help center.
Summary generated from verified sources and reviewed before publication. How we summarize.
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