LinkedIn Will Pay $13M in Spam Lawsuit
LinkedIn has agreed to pay $13 million as part of a proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit that alleged the company spammed members without their consent. The website is a daily resource for job recruiters like Erik Elliot of Alpha Omega Professionals.
“You can utilize it if you have a home business, if you’re looking for a job, if you’re looking to network,” Elliot told CBS Los Angeles, who says even he finds constant emails from the company to be annoying. “I have set up rules on my own email that push them off into their own folder so it doesn’t bombard my inbox.”
A class-action lawsuit claimed that LinkedIn spammed members without their consent. The suit specifically targeted LinkedIn’s Add Connections, a service that allowed members to import contacts from their email accounts. LinkedIn then sent those contacts an email.
The court found that members did not consent to LinkedIn sending two reminder emails to recipients of pending invitations.
While LinkedIn denies any wrongdoing, under a proposed settlement, the company agreed to pay out $13 million and told CBS Los Angeles it has made changes to its privacy policy.
Elliot believes that’s fair.
“Other than that, it’s a great platform to utilize, to grow career-wise and personally,” he said.
Those who signed up for LinkedIn between Sept. 17, 2011, and Oct. 31, 2014, can submit a claim. Even those who aren’t current members may submit a claim.
The payment amount for members of approved claims will depend upon how many claims are submitted. According to the settlement website, it could range from $10 to $1,500.
Claims may be submitted until Dec. 14.
Story courtesy CBS Los Angeles.