Court Rules
All enforcement actions
InvestigationLow Risk

Texas AG Investigates LinkedIn for Ghost Jobs and Misleading Premium Subscriptions

LinkedIn CorporationJuly 14, 2026Texas Attorney General

Summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into LinkedIn Corporation over allegations that the company advertised and profited from fake or misleading job opportunities ("ghost jobs") on its platform. The investigation focuses on whether LinkedIn misled consumers who paid for Premium subscriptions by failing to disclose that a significant percentage of job postings may be inactive or not genuine hiring opportunities.

Remedy

No remedies have been imposed; this is an ongoing investigation. The OAG issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to LinkedIn seeking documents, data, and internal communications.

Contract Impact

In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements with job listing platforms and recruitment service providers to ensure that any representations about job posting accuracy, verification, and active hiring status are contractually guaranteed. Key clauses to examine include service level agreements (SLAs) regarding listing verification, representations and warranties about the legitimacy of postings, and indemnification provisions for losses arising from misleading or fake listings. Additionally, customer-facing terms of service and subscription agreements should be reviewed for disclosures about the possibility of inactive or unverified job postings.

Contract Search Terms

ghost jobsjob listing verificationpremium subscriptionmisleading advertisingjob posting accuracyconsumer protectiondeceptive trade practicesjob platform liability

Laws Cited

Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act

Violation Types

Entity Details

Entity

LinkedIn Corporation

Industry

Technology

Official Sources

Source Evidence

Entity Name
"LinkedIn Corporation"
Violation Types
"advertised and profited from fake or misleading job opportunities, commonly known as "ghost jobs""
Summary
"Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into LinkedIn Corporation ("LinkedIn") over allegations that the company has advertised and profited from fake or misleading job opportunities, commonly known as "ghost jobs," on its platform."
Laws Cited
"Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act"

Related Enforcement Actions

TX

Tris Pharmaceuticals

$7.5M

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a $7.5 million settlement with Tris Pharmaceuticals over alleged misrepresentations about the efficacy of Dyanavel XR, an ADHD drug marketed for children. The release says the company overstated the drug’s efficacy and directed sales representatives to make misleading claims to doctors, including Medicaid providers.

TX

Plum Organics

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an agreement with Plum Organics requiring stronger testing and limits for heavy metals in covered baby food products, along with publicly accessible testing results. The release does not state a monetary penalty; the agreement follows an ongoing investigation into baby food manufacturers.

TX

Health Care Service Corporation (including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, its parent Health Care Service Corporation, and related entities over alleged denials or delays of urgent and medically necessary care and potentially burdensome prior authorization requirements. The investigation is ongoing; the Attorney General issued a Civil Investigative Demand to obtain information and assess potential violations of Texas law.

TX

N/A (consumer alert; no enforcement target)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a consumer alert warning Texas businesses and nonprofits about a surge of demand letters alleging California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) violations based on common website technologies such as cookies, pixels, and analytics tools. The AG cautions that some letters may exaggerate or misrepresent violations and may be fraudulent, noting serial CIPA plaintiff Vivek Shah has been declared a vexatious litigant. Recipients are advised not to pay or respond directly, to consult privacy counsel, and to report suspected fraud to the Consumer Protection Division.

TX

TikTok

A Texas state district court (Judge Cory Liu) has found TikTok liable for lying to parents about the safety of its platform and for exposing children to inappropriate and explicit content, making Texas the first state in the nation to hold TikTok liable on these claims. The court found that although TikTok claimed it would remove graphic videos depicting drugs, nudity, alcohol, injuries, and profanity, such videos remained accessible to minors, even under 'Restricted Mode.' No penalty has been imposed yet; Attorney General Paxton will proceed to trial, expected next month, where relief and penalties will be determined.

TX

TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp., the U.S. government contractor that administers the VA Community Care Network and the Defense Health Agency's TRICARE West Region, over reports that it wrongfully denied health care claims by falsely treating insureds as having other health insurance (OHI). The OAG has issued Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) and plans to interview consumers and employees to determine whether TriWest violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. No findings or penalties have been imposed yet.