From my reading of the article, this is Linkedin (an American company) that has decided to collect data about Europeans - the EU is not involved. Linkedin has decided that making it opt-out is covered by "legitimate interests". So I guess the real issue here is that the rest of you just don't get the option - you are included anyway.
Strangely enough, it wasn't a problem at all. They'd still call me, interview me and make an offer. So I believe people overestimate the importance of LI, at least for some cases.
This is an important issue from me because it's the only so-called "social" site that seems somewhat enforced by the system we're living in, so it has been abused in various ways as people believe they have no choice but to share the details related to their education, past and present employment with the general public.
Here's just a quick reminder that if you're a LinkedIn user based in an EU member state, and if you do not believe that “legitimate interest” applies, you can file a complaint with your national supervisory authority (SA)/data protection authority (DPA); see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_data_protection_autho...
0. now my current job!
I held out on facebook since last year, but have given in. My wife is my only friend, even if facebook is pushing a never ending desperate barrage of youmightknow mails.