Observed Signal · Jun 15, 2021 · Regulation · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Supreme Court Reopens LinkedIn Data Scraping Case
The article reports on hiQ Labs, which extracts publicly accessible LinkedIn user data to build analytic profiles aimed at predicting employee departures. LinkedIn previously attempted to block hiQ’s access in 2017, a move that courts did not prevail at the time. The piece notes that the U.S. Supreme Court has revived the case and sent it back to lower courts for further review, meaning the dispute will continue rather than being resolved. This development could establish a legal precedent for how publicly viewable data is treated in the context of data scraping and privacy. HiQ contends it only accesses public information, while LinkedIn argues the practice violates terms and user rights. As privacy protections grow in importance, the outcome may influence future data-access practices and the balance between openness and user privacy in the digital economy.
Could establish a legal precedent for datascraping of publicly available data and privacy implications.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- hiQ Labs uses publicly accessible LinkedIn data to build data profiles predicting which employees will leave their companies.
- LinkedIn challenged hiQ's access in 2017, but the initial legal outcome did not fully block hiQ's access.
- The U.S. Supreme Court has revived the case and sent it back to lower courts for further review.
- The case could set a precedent for how publicly visible data is treated in datascraping.
- LinkedIn argues scraping breaches terms of use and user rights; hiQ claims only public information is accessed.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Céline Flores Willers urges B2B marketers to think like B2C
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Nadella's AI Pivot: Can He Reinvent Microsoft Again?
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