LinkedIn, the Microsoft‑owned networking platform, has hit the headlines again after two U.S. class‑action filings accuse the company of covertly scanning users’ browser extensions. The lawsuits, filed in the Northern District of California, allege that LinkedIn’s hidden JavaScript probes every Chrome or Edge install, collecting extension lists without clear disclosure. Analysts say the practice could breach privacy norms.

The claims hinge on a German report from Fairlinked, a trade‑association style group tied to Estonian firm Teamfluence, which had previously sued LinkedIn in Munich over a “radar” extension that scrapes member data. Fairlinked alleges LinkedIn transmits extension data to third parties, including an Israeli security firm, without users’ knowledge, violating EU data‑protection rules for every professional network regularly today.

LinkedIn counters that it discloses extension scanning in its privacy policy and uses the data only to spot abusive tools that harvest user information. The company claims it never sells extension lists and that the hidden code targets only those that violate terms. Whether courts will side with plaintiffs or uphold LinkedIn’s defensive stance remains a key question for privacy law.