JAKARTA - Microsoft's professional platform LinkedIn is in the spotlight after a recent report revealed the alleged scanning of users' browser extensions without consent. This finding has sparked new concerns about data collection and privacy practices amid tight European regulator scrutiny.
The report titled "BrowserGate" released by the advocacy organization Fairlinked e.V. says LinkedIn uses JavaScript code on its site to detect installed browser extensions. The technique is claimed to make use of the unique identification of thousands of extensions to map user behavior in more detail.
The report said that the system can recognize more than 6,000 different extensions by examining certain resources or markers exposed by the browser. The data from the detection results is then allegedly sent back to the LinkedIn server, potentially paving the way for more in-depth user profile creation, including sensitive information.
However, not all users are affected in the same way. Browsers such as Safari are considered more protected because they have a more closed extension system, which limits this type of fingerprinting technique. On the other hand, Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome and Edge are considered more vulnerable because they allow access to certain identification of extensions.
However, this method does not mean that LinkedIn accesses the user's system directly. Detection is carried out through web interactions that are limited to what can be "seen" by the site. To date, there is no evidence that the data is actually directly associated with the user's identity in practice.
This controversy is becoming more prominent due to the gap between the practices revealed in the report and LinkedIn's official privacy policy. In its documentation, LinkedIn acknowledges the use of cookies and third-party tracking tools for analytics and advertising, but does not explicitly mention browser extension scanning.
If proven true, this practice has the potential to violate EU privacy regulations, especially if it is done without transparency and user consent. LinkedIn's status as a "gatekeeper" under the Digital Markets Act regulations also puts it under close scrutiny regarding data usage and platform competition.
As of April 3, there has been no official response from Microsoft or LinkedIn regarding the report, and no regulator findings have been made public.
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