“Our research suggests there are real risks associated with these sites”: Experts say some job search platforms are stealing personal data from job seekers

The Incogni report finds that leading job sites are selling sensitive user data, often without awareness
ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and Monster ranked highest for collection/sharing practices
Millions of US job seekers are at risk, with only 7% expressing concern about privacy exposure

Almost all the leading job search sites sell their users’ sensitive data to third parties – and most of them don’t even realize it.

A new report from Incogni surveyed 1,000 US workers using nine “leading job search, recruiting and professional networking platforms” and reviewed their privacy policies and legal information.

ZipRecruiter found it ranked highest for collecting and sharing personal information. Microsoft-owned LinkedIn, and Monster, were second and third. Incogni also emphasized that Microsoft previously faced regulatory fines and lawsuits over privacy-related issues.

Users in the dark

At the same time, users either don’t know, or they don’t seem too phased about it. More than a third (37%) of the survey respondents believe that the platforms only share user data with potential employees.

Almost 50% said they just skim the privacy policies when uploading resumes, and 40% said they never delete the profiles they create on job search platforms. A quarter do not remember all the platforms that have their data and a third (34%) uploaded their information to more than two platforms.

This is a problem that affects millions of people in the United States alone, Incogni suggested. The company says 7.4 million Americans are currently unemployed, and four out of five (79.5%) job seekers rely on job search websites as an “essential resource.”

“It’s hard to focus on data protection when you’re worried about putting food on the table, but our research suggests there are real risks associated with these sites,” said Darius Belejevas, head of Incogni.

“Only 7% of our survey respondents expressed concern about sharing their personal information with job search platforms; a shocking indictment of the lack of privacy risk education in the US”