LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addresses of non-members

Re:LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addr... by logicallee on Sunday November 25, 2018 @06:56AM (#18526512)

It wasn't stupid of you, not your fault LinkedIn literally impersonated you. The mail it sent out all those years ago was written in your name and as though you had actively crafted and sent it. Anyone who knows your name could have impersonated you. Don't worry about doing something wrong.

A quick google suggests linkedin was sued and reached a class action settlement in exchange for the practice.

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Re:LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addr... by adwhit on Sunday November 25, 2018 @07:04AM (#18526536)

You can be almost certain that LinkedIn knew it was illegal when they did it, and accurately calculated that the fine they would receive (if any) would be much lower than the value derived from increased membership. In fact they would be stupid not to in winner-takes-all markets like social media.

Silicon Valley has a phrase for such flagrantly unethical practice, it is called "growth hacking".

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Re:LinkedIn violated data protection by using 18M email addr... by cyphar on Sunday November 25, 2018 @08:38AM (#18526814)

To gratuitously quote Fight Club:

"It was my job to apply The Formula™. [...] Take the number of vehicles in the field, A. Multiply it by the probable rate of failure, B. Then multiply it by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one."

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