LinkedIn Wins Legal Battle Over Browser Extension Scanning Practices
By Editor • September 10, 2026 • 1 min read
LinkedIn has successfully navigated legal challenges regarding its scanning of users' browser extensions, as a judge dismissed two lawsuits aimed at the Microsoft-owned platform. The ruling, delivered by Judge Vince Chhabria in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, highlighted the plaintiffs' failure to demonstrate standing in their claims.
In a decision made on Tuesday, Chhabria stated that the users, Nicholas Farrell and Jeff Ganan, did not prove they had browser extensions that transmitted private information to LinkedIn. The judge noted that the plaintiffs were unlikely to establish a plausible case for a privacy violation, especially since users voluntarily download extensions that inherently share data with websites.
While the judge has allowed the plaintiffs the opportunity to amend their complaints, he expressed skepticism about their chances of success. Ganan's attorney, J.R. Howell, is now considering whether to pursue the claims in California state court, which has different standing requirements, or to appeal the ruling to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Source: arstechnica.com
