Texas Opens Probe into LinkedIn Over Alleged 'Fake Job' Listings

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into LinkedIn over allegations that the professional networking platform displayed "fake job" listings and profited from paid subscriptions tied to those postings.

The civil investigation centers on claims that users who purchased LinkedIn Premium subscriptions were shown job advertisements that did not represent genuine employment opportunities, according to a statement from the Texas Attorney General's Office.

State officials define a "fake job" listing as one that does not correspond to an actual vacancy or is advertised despite the employer having no current intention of filling the position.

Investigators allege that LinkedIn fails to disclose that some job postings may not reflect active hiring opportunities, potentially encouraging users to purchase Premium subscriptions based on what authorities describe as misleading information about available jobs on the platform.

Texas officials noted that Premium Career and Premium Business subscriptions are priced at approximately $39.99 and $69.99 per month, respectively.

Attorney General Paxton said his office would use all available resources to determine whether LinkedIn misled Texas residents by promoting non-existent job opportunities while marketing itself as a trusted employment platform.

"My office will use every available resource to help Texans find real job opportunities," Paxton said in a statement. He added that the investigation will examine whether LinkedIn's advertising and subscription practices violated state consumer protection laws.

As part of the inquiry, the Attorney General's Office has issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) seeking internal documents, communications, and records related to LinkedIn's advertising, marketing, job verification processes, Premium subscription services, and job listings.

LinkedIn has denied the allegations, maintaining that job listings on its platform are authentic and that it has robust measures in place to protect job seekers.

A company spokesperson said LinkedIn's mission is to help members find employment opportunities and that platform policies require all posted jobs to be genuine and accurately represented.

The spokesperson added that many job listings include additional hiring information—such as employer response times and whether recruiters are actively reviewing applications—to help users determine whether positions remain open.

LinkedIn also said it continues to invest in verification tools for job postings, recruiters, and company pages to improve transparency and strengthen trust across its hiring platform.

The Texas investigation remains in its early stages, and no formal charges or lawsuit have been filed against LinkedIn.