NOYB files complaint against LinkedIn over GDPR profile viewer data
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · May 7
NOYB files complaint against LinkedIn over GDPR profile viewer data
5 articles · Updated · Computerworld · May 7
The case, lodged in Austria this week, argues EU users should get full profile-visitor data free under Article 15 instead of paying about €30 a month for Premium.
NOYB says LinkedIn wrongly denies formal access requests on privacy grounds while selling the same information; LinkedIn rejects that, saying free users see some viewers and disclosures meet GDPR requirements.
If regulators side with NOYB, LinkedIn could face a substantial fine or be forced either to stop revealing profile viewers or provide the data free, with possible implications for other subscription data features.
Is LinkedIn illegally selling user data that, under GDPR, should be a free right?
Could this lawsuit against LinkedIn's paywall threaten the entire tech 'freemium' business model?
noyb Files Complaint Against LinkedIn's Paywall Violating GDPR Article 15 Access Rights
Overview
In May 2026, noyb filed a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority against LinkedIn for placing profile visitor data behind a €30/month Premium paywall, violating GDPR Article 15 which guarantees free access to personal data. LinkedIn claims this protects viewer privacy, but noyb highlights the contradiction that the same data is fully accessible to paying Premium users. Legal experts criticize this as monetizing a fundamental right. The complaint could lead to fines up to 4% of LinkedIn's global turnover and force the removal of the paywall, setting a precedent that would increase transparency for all users and challenge similar paywall practices across the tech industry.