In 2026 LinkedIn collects profile information, activity, and device data as described in its privacy policy. Members can adjust some visibility settings for their profile and activity. The platform uses data to suggest connections and content.
Comparison points
Indeed and Glassdoor also collect account and activity data for job matching and recommendations. They stop offering the same breadth of public professional history that LinkedIn displays by default. Specialized communities on Slack or Discord are often invitation based and stop providing the same public searchability.
Illustrative diagram only. Not a technical architecture or measured data flow.
Export tools exist on LinkedIn for downloading profile data. Other platforms offer similar downloads where accounts are created. Retention periods and sharing practices differ and are stated in each privacy policy. In 2026 the practical step is to read the current policy before creating or expanding an account.