Ghost Data: Deleted LinkedIn Profile Info Still Haunts the Platform

 During my recent exploration of LinkedIn’s data handling, I uncovered a concerning flaw in how the platform retains user information—even after it has supposedly been deleted.

I had removed all personal details from my LinkedIn profile, including my bio and job history. However, to my surprise, an old company name I had previously listed—“That Wild Arc Studio”—still appeared in the “Add to Featured” section. While this data wasn’t publicly visible or accessible through my profile, it was still being surfaced internally by LinkedIn’s system.

This ghost data raises important privacy concerns. When users delete personal or professional information from their profiles, they expect it to be permanently erased across the entire platform—not just hidden from view. But in this case, LinkedIn was still surfacing that supposedly deleted data in suggested previews, internal tags, and feature prompts.

I believe this kind of data persistence violates user expectations and trust. Sensitive history like past employers or personal bios should be thoroughly wiped—not linger in the backend where it can unintentionally resurface. The issue highlights the need for more transparent and complete data deletion mechanisms, especially on platforms that manage professional identities.

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