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  • 1.  Question about companies who scrape Linkedin and opinion on Intellectspace

    Posted 01-25-2024 09:34 AM

    I was told many years ago from Linkedin that there are companies out there that scrape their data for colleges alumni employment and provide lists to colleges, that this is illegal and there are lawsuits about it.  Does anyone know if that is true?

    Also does anyone have an opinion of IntellectSpace?  

    Thanks in advance for any information.  



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    Ann Carman
    Hartwick College
    gifts@hartwick.edu
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  • 2.  RE: Question about companies who scrape Linkedin and opinion on Intellectspace

    Posted 01-26-2024 09:47 AM

    Hi, Ann.

    We use LiveAlumni for this purpose.  What they are doing is not illegal as they are only providing information on public LinkedIn profiles.  If a profile is marked as private, they do not return the data.  I spoke with an alumnus of ours who works for LinkedIn as we are also subscribers to LI as an organization.  They were unable to provide the employment data we were looking for in a consumable format but mentioned no concerns with us working with LiveAlumni.

    LiveAlumni has been a good company with which to partner.  They are very responsive and helpful when we have questions.  I'm happy to provide additional detail if you'd like.

    -Courtney



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    Courtney Sims
    Bucknell University
    courtney.sims@bucknell.edu
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  • 3.  RE: Question about companies who scrape Linkedin and opinion on Intellectspace

    Posted 01-26-2024 10:04 AM
    There was a court case several years ago where LinkedIn, which is now owned by Microsoft, was sued to allow the practice of scarring. The courts agreed the practice was legal.  LinkedIn has gone through some levels of a peel, and the dispute is ongoing. But for the present, it does appear the practice is legal. 

    Dave Woodley
    Unlock*Share*Connect
    Chief Data Officer
    University of Alaska Foundation







  • 4.  RE: Question about companies who scrape Linkedin and opinion on Intellectspace

    Posted 01-26-2024 12:44 PM
    Many of you know Steve Hafner. He has been in the data business for decades. I met him in the early 90s when I was at Duke and he was establishing HEP Data. He's now the Founder & CEO of BlueRidge Data (BlueRidge Data Home Page). 

    Steve and I frequently discuss this topic - especially as I prepare data-related presentations as I am doing in preparation for a session at DRIVE. As Courtney mentioned, these data acquisition activities are quite legal.

    BRD, like LiveAlumni, accesses public databases. In the case of BRD, they use over a dozen publicly available sources, including LinkedIn. They also utilize redundant confirmation for accuracy. As I emphasize in presentations, you cannot trust just one source - even if it is LinkedIn!

    John

    John H. Taylor

    Principal

    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC

    2604 Sevier St.

    Durham, NC   27705

    johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

     

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