Indeed Forced Arbitration & bundling of consent: Difference between revisions

'''Indeed''', owned by [[Recruit Holdings]], operates as the world's largest job search platform with over 330 million monthly users.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indeed.com/about |title=About Indeed |website=Indeed |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref> The platform had large operational changes in 2024-2025, including laying off over 4,500 employees (2,200 in March 2023, 1,000 in May 2024, & 1,300 in July 2025).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.staffingindustry.com/news/global-daily-news/indeed-lay-2200-workers-reports-job-market-poised-continue-cooling |title=Indeed to lay off 2,200 workers, reports job market poised to continue cooling |website=Staffing Industry |date=2023-03-22 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hrdive.com/news/indeed-layoffs-job-market/716166/ |title=Indeed lays off 1K employees, citing 'global slow-down' in hiring |website=HR Dive |date=2024-05-08 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indeed-glassdoor-layoffs-ai-job-search/ |title=Indeed & Glassdoor to lay off 1,300 workers as AI shakes up job search business |website=CBS News |date=2025-07-25 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref>

'''This bundled approach prevents users from consenting to employer communications without simultaneously agreeing to receive Indeed's marketing messages'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mslawgroup.com/tcpa-requirements-faq/ |title=TCPA Compliance, Opt-out & Consent Requirements |website=M&S Law Group |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref> Legal experts note that "it is impermissible to use a 'marketing partners' list or other technique that bundles consent for multiple sellers into a single consent action."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://activeprospect.com/blog/express-written-consent/ |title=The complete TCPA express written consent checklist |website=ActiveProspect |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref>

On '''January 24, 2025''', the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated the FCC's one-to-one consent rule in ''Insurance Marketing Coalition Limited v. Federal Communications Commission''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://perkinscoie.com/insights/update/fccs-one-one-consent-rule-vacated-whats-next-tcpa-compliance |title=FCC's One-to-One Consent Rule Vacated: What's Next for TCPA Compliance? |website=Perkins Coie |date=2025-01-27 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref> The court held that the FCC exceeded its statutory authority under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by imposing restrictions beyond the statutory requirement of "clear & unmistakable" consent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://epic.org/eleventh-circuit-vacates-robocall-consent-protection-before-it-takes-effect/ |title=Eleventh Circuit Vacates Robocall Consent Protection Before It Takes Effect |website=EPIC |date=2025-01-24 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref>

Penalties range from '''$500 to $1,500 per violation''', with significant increases in TCPA litigation in recent years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dnc.com/blog/what-tcpa-lawsuit-can-cost-you |title=What a TCPA Lawsuit Can Cost You |website=DNC |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref> TCPA class action filings reached 2,788 cases in 2024 (67% increase from 2023) with January 2025 showing a 250% increase in class action filings year-over-year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tcpaworld.com/2025/03/06/tcpa-class-action-filings-explode-the-massive-final-numbers-are-in-for-2024-and-january-2025-numbers-are-insane/ |title=TCPA CLASS ACTION FILINGS EXPLODE: The MASSIVE Final Numbers Are In for 2024–And January, 2025 Numbers Are INSANE |website=TCPAWorld |date=2025-03-06 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref>

Indeed has not issued standalone press releases addressing the Terms of Service changes or bundled consent practices. The company's official communication consisted of update emails sent to users in early September 2025, explaining the Terms had changed, highlighting the arbitration clause, & noting the opt-out option.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indeed.com/legal |title=Terms of Service Update email (Sept 2025) |website=Indeed |date=2025-09-07 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref>

==Analysis==

The practice appears increasingly outdated compared to industry standards, with major competitors implementing granular consent mechanisms. Research indicates '''99% of consumers are unaware they have agreed to arbitration clauses''', with consumer win rates in forced arbitration dropping to just 0.7%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nclc.org/study-99-of-consumers-unaware-they-are-subject-to-forced-arbitration/ |title=Study: 99% of Consumers Unaware they are Subject to Forced Arbitration |website=NCLC |date=2022-03-01 |access-date=2025-09-10}}</ref>

* '''2025-09-07:''' Indeed sends notification emails to users about Terms changes