# Has LinkedIn been scraping the Dope?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-linkedin-been-scraping-the-dope/743639>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [January 20, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-linkedin-been-scraping-the-dope/743639 "2016-01-20T00:20:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-linkedin-been-scraping-the-dope/743639/4 "2016-01-20T05:52:18Z")

</div>

Okay, here’s some background.

(1) [This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=704941) from October 2013. See, in particular, Posts 4 and 5.

> [@Security, or breach of security?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-or-breach-of-security/671298/4):
>
> LinkedIn is accused of doing this, or something similar. They badger users to give their e-mail addresses _and passwords_ :eek: then harvest all your contacts from your e-mail account. Then send invitations _in your name_ to all your contacts, to come and join LinkedIn. (I myself have received some of these.)
> 
> HuffPo article: [LinkedIn Sued For ‘Hacking’ Users’ Email Accounts To Spam Friends](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/20/linkedin-sued-hacking-emails-spam_n_3963195.html)
> 
> Bloomberg article: [LinkedIn Customers Allege Company Hacked E-Mail Addresses](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-20/linkedin-customers-say-company-hacked-their-e-mail-address-books.html)
> 
> The Independent article: [Stranger danger? LinkedIn denies ‘hack and spam’ attacks on members in marketing tussle](http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/stranger-danger-linkedin-denies-hack-and-spam-attacks-on-members-in-marketing-tussle-8836995.html)

(2) [How do I prevent LinkedIn from spamming everyone in my address book?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=624283) from September 2011. Pit-worthy ranting about LinkedIn doing shit like this, but also glowing testimonials from posters who found jobs or whatever there.

(3) [Why I Hate Linkedin…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=691688) from May 2013. More ranting about the spamming LinkedIn does.

(4) [What’s the deal with LinkedIn?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737750) from October 2014. See posts 9, 18, and 31 in particular for relevant remarks and more links to articles about it.

ETA:

> [@What's the deal with LinkedIn?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-linkedin/701729/9):
>
> The LinkedIn interface is [designed to encourage that error](https://getsatisfaction.com/linkedin/topics/why_does_linkedin_think_its_ok_to_trick_me_into_spamming_my_entire_gmail_address_book), and they’ve been sued for [allegedly accessing user contacts to spam them with invites](https://gigaom.com/2013/09/21/linkedin-is-breaking-into-user-emails-spamming-contacts-lawsuit/).

Hope that all or some of the above links are still live.

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-linkedin-been-scraping-the-dope/743639)._