A data protection advocacy group has filed a complaint against LinkedIn in Austria, accusing the professional networking platform of engaging in practices linked to the sale and monetisation of user data.
The Vienna-based organisation Noyb, which stands for “None of Your Business,” said it submitted the complaint to the Austrian Data Protection Authority on behalf of a LinkedIn user seeking full access to his personal data.
According to the group, the user has demanded a complete response to his data access request, while also urging regulators to impose a fine on LinkedIn.
Noyb alleged that LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, has failed to fully comply with user data access requests, citing vague data protection concerns. It further argued that users are being pushed toward paid premium subscriptions to access certain information, including visibility into who views their profiles.
“People have the right to receive their own data free of charge,” Noyb data protection lawyer Martin Baumann said, criticising what the group described as restricted access tied to paid features.
The organisation also questioned the legality of LinkedIn’s profile visitor tracking system, arguing that the platform does not obtain clear and active consent from users for such tracking practices.
Noyb added that it is seeking regulatory intervention, including the possibility of financial penalties against the platform if violations are established.
The group has built a reputation for filing strategic complaints across Europe, often prompting investigations and enforcement actions against major technology companies under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Since its establishment in 2018, Noyb has pursued hundreds of cases aimed at strengthening user control over personal data and ensuring compliance with strict privacy rules across digital platforms.
