LinkedIn sued for hacking into users' accounts and sending invitations to friends

 LinkedIn has been reportedly sued by four individuals who claim that the professional networking site hacked in to their accounts in order to send invitations to their friends.

The lawsuit alleged that LinkedIn violates the federal wiretap law as well as California privacy laws.

The plaintiffs have alleged that when the site demands users’ emails, it does not make clear that it will send those users’ friends up to three email invitations.

Plaintiffs’ attorney, Larry Russ said that for years, people have been complaining about LinkedIn's emails and the lawsuit is squarely directed at the marketing practices causing the public outrage, Huffington Post reports.

The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status, with the hope of defining the plaintiff class as any member registered with LinkedIn prior to May 15, 2013, whose identity was used in endorsement emails.

According to the report, the suit states that it is unlawful to send advertising emails to users implicating that the member is endorsing LinkedIn, without the member’s consent, and seeks to ban the practice.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn spokesperson Doug Madey has dismissed the claims and said that the company is committed to being transparent about how they protect and utilize their members' data, adding that the legal claims in the lawsuit are without merit and the company will fight it.