A prominent digital rights organisation, Noyb, has filed a formal complaint in Austria against LinkedIn over its handling of user data access requests and alleged data monetisation practices.
The Vienna-based group said the complaint was lodged with the Austrian Data Protection Authority on behalf of a LinkedIn user who is seeking full access to his personal data under European privacy law.
According to Noyb, LinkedIn—owned by Microsoft—has failed to provide complete responses to data access requests, citing privacy and security concerns.
At the same time, the group alleges that the platform encourages users to subscribe to its premium service in order to access information on who views their profile, raising questions about transparency and fairness.
“People have the right to receive their own data free of charge,” said Noyb data protection lawyer Martin Baumann, adding that it remains unclear whether LinkedIn’s profile-visitor tracking system complies with European data protection rules.
Noyb further argued that the platform does not obtain explicit consent from users for certain tracking activities, which could place its practices in potential conflict with the General Data Protection Regulation framework.
The organisation has requested that regulators impose a fine on LinkedIn and compel the company to fully comply with access requests.
Known for its aggressive legal action against major technology firms, Noyb has filed hundreds of complaints across Europe since its founding in 2018, often prompting investigations and enforcement actions by data protection authorities.
The group said its latest case underscores ongoing concerns about how large digital platforms handle user data, consent, and monetisation within the EU regulatory environment.
