Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into LinkedIn Corporation over allegations that the company advertised and profited from fake or misleading job opportunities ("ghost jobs") on its platform. The investigation focuses on whether LinkedIn misled consumers who paid for Premium subscriptions by failing to disclose that a significant percentage of job postings may be inactive or not genuine hiring opportunities.
No remedies have been imposed; this is an ongoing investigation. The OAG issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to LinkedIn seeking documents, data, and internal communications.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements with job listing platforms and recruitment service providers to ensure that any representations about job posting accuracy, verification, and active hiring status are contractually guaranteed. Key clauses to examine include service level agreements (SLAs) regarding listing verification, representations and warranties about the legitimacy of postings, and indemnification provisions for losses arising from misleading or fake listings. Additionally, customer-facing terms of service and subscription agreements should be reviewed for disclosures about the possibility of inactive or unverified job postings.
Entity
LinkedIn Corporation
Industry
Technology"LinkedIn Corporation"
"advertised and profited from fake or misleading job opportunities, commonly known as "ghost jobs""
"Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into LinkedIn Corporation ("LinkedIn") over allegations that the company has advertised and profited from fake or misleading job opportunities, commonly known as "ghost jobs," on its platform."
"Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act"
$3.0M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a settlement requiring Temu to protect Texans’ sensitive personal data from exposure to the Chinese Communist Party and to strengthen product-safety practices. Temu must pay Texas $3 million, comply with data-security requirements backed by a potential $8 million annual penalty, conduct annual independent product testing, and take specified action on products found to contain harmful substances.
$773.0M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that a multistate coalition had secured an opioid settlement with Albertsons, which would require the grocery chain to pay more than $773 million nationally once final. Texas and its political subdivisions may receive up to $57.8 million for opioid abatement; the release does not identify privacy violations.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Gerber Products Company and Nestlé USA, Inc., alleging that Gerber made deceptive safety and testing claims while its baby food contained dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals. The lawsuit asserts claims under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act; the release does not report a settlement, monetary penalty, or court order.
$1.5M
The Texas Attorney General obtained a judgment holding Rubinsky Roofing LLC liable for 27 violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, including deceptive practices involving older consumers and payment for unnecessary or unfinished repairs. The judgment requires more than $1.5 million in civil penalties, allocates at least $500,000 to consumer restitution, and permanently bars the company and its owner from the practices at issue.
The Texas Attorney General opened an investigation into UnitedHealth Group over allegations that its insurance-benefit administration and patient-care decisions denied Texans medically necessary healthcare. The AG issued Civil Investigative Demands to collect evidence; the release announces no penalty or remedy.
$7.5M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a $7.5 million settlement with Tris Pharmaceuticals over alleged misrepresentations about the efficacy of Dyanavel XR, an ADHD drug marketed for children. The release says the company overstated the drug’s efficacy and directed sales representatives to make misleading claims to doctors, including Medicaid providers.