LinkedIn class action over DMV data collection dismissed

Update:

• A California federal judge threw out a class action lawsuit that claims LinkedIn unlawfully tracked the activities of members who visited the California Department of Motor Vehicles’ website to apply for, renew or check the status of a disability placard.
• In an order filed Jan. 3, U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts dismissed the class action, stating Jacqueline Jackso, the plaintiff and a LinkedIn user, didn’t sufficiently allege that her personal information was transmitted to the professional social media platform from a Department of Motor Vehicle record in violation of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
• Jackson’s lawsuit claimed LinkedIn, by way of a tracking pixel, unlawfully obtained the personal disability information of its members who visited the website.
• Judge Pitts ruled that any information disclosed to LinkedIn through the DMV did not come specifically from a motor vehicle record and therefore was not a breach of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act as alleged.

LinkedIn class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Plaintiff Jacqueline Jackson filed a class action lawsuit against LinkedIn Corporation. 
• Why: Jackson claims LinkedIn unlawfully tracked the activity of members who visited the California Department of Motor Vehicles website to apply for, renew or check the status of a disability placard. 
• Where: The LinkedIn DMV class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

(Feb. 20, 2024)

A new Linkedin class action lawsuit claims the social media company unlawfully tracked the activities of its members who visited the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website to apply for, renew, or check the status of a disability placard.

Plaintiff Jacqueline Jackson’s class action lawsuit claims LinkedIn, by way of a tracking pixel, unlawfully obtained the personal disability information of its members who went to the DMV’s website and then allegedly used that information for “unlawful purposes.”

“At no time did LinkedIn or the DMV disclose to Plaintiff or Class Members that LinkedIn was tracking the activities of its members on the DMV website, obtaining their personal information, or learning the contents of their communications with the DMV,” the LinkedIn DMV class action states.

Jackson, who uses a disability placard for her vehicle, wants to represent a California class of LinkedIn members who visited the California DMV website to apply for, renew, or check on the status of a disability placard. 

LinkedIn class action claims company gathered ‘massive’ amounts of personal data

Jackson argues LinkedIn was able to secretly amass “massive” amounts of personal information and data belonging to its members, then used that data to allegedly generate “substantial” revenue from both advertising and marketing services. 

“Such information is extremely valuable to marketers and advertisers because the inferences derived from users’ personal information and communications allows marketers and advertisers, including healthcare providers and insurance companies, to target potential customers,” the LinkedIn class action says.

Jackson claims LinkedIn is guilty of violating both the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and the California Invasion of Privacy Act. She is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of actual and/or statutory damages for herself and all class members. 

LinkedIn agreed to pay $6.75 million last year to put an end to claims the company violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by allegedly mismanaging its 401(k) retirement plan.

Are you concerned that LinkedIn has unlawfully tracked you on the California DMV website? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Roland Tellis, Sterling L. Cluff and Michael J. Pacelli of Baron & Budd, P.C. and Don Bivens of Don Bivens PLLC. 

The LinkedIn data privacy class action lawsuit is Jackson v. LinkedIn Corp., Case No. 5:24-cv-00812, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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