From Consumer Rights Wiki

Indeed, owned by Recruit Holdings, operates as one of the world's largest job search platforms with more than 350 million monthly unique visitors.[1] 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).[2][3][4]

CEO Chris Hyams resigned on June 2, 2025, after six years leading the company, replaced by former Indeed CEO Hisayuki "Deko" Idekoba.[5] Recruit Holdings reported Q1 2024 HR Technology revenue falling 2.5% year-over-year to $1.83 billion, with U.S. revenue declining 5.0%.[6]

On August 22, 2025, Indeed updated its Terms of Service to include mandatory binding arbitration provisions in Section D.12 that apply to all U.S. users.[7] The update coincided with the platform's use of a bundled consent checkbox during job applications & large regulatory changes following the vacation of the FCC's one-to-one consent rule.

Indeed employs a bundled consent mechanism during job applications that states: "Check this box to receive calls or text messages at the number you provided from employers you've applied to, & Indeed." This single checkbox combines two distinct types of consent:

• Permission for employers to contact applicants about job opportunities
• Permission for Indeed to send its own marketing & platform communications

Checkbox to agree to receive text messages from indeed AND employers; cannot opt out of indeed text messages while opting into employer text messages.

This bundled approach prevents users from consenting to employer communications without simultaneously agreeing to receive Indeed's marketing messages.[8] 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."[9]

Section D.12 of the Terms requires users to waive their rights to pursue disputes in court, participate in jury trials, & engage in class, collective, or representative actions.[10] The arbitration agreement applies retroactively to disputes arising before the clause was introduced, unless users had already notified Indeed of the dispute.

Forced arbitration notice sent out to Indeed users

The arbitration provisions cover disputes "arising out of or relating in any way to the Site... any communications you send or receive... the Terms or prior versions of the Terms, or any aspect of your relationship with Indeed," including disputes between users as well as with Indeed itself.[11]

Job seekers are provided a 30-day window to opt out of the arbitration agreement by sending notice to [email protected].[12] The opt-out requires:

• A statement of intent to opt out
• Full name
• Mailing address
• Phone number
• All email addresses linked to Indeed accounts
• Date of the notice

Optional: An automated opt-out notice generator is available here to help users create properly formatted legal notices, or if you prefer there is this pdf provided by Indeed's legal department over here

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.[13] 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.[14]

Despite the rule's vacation, fundamental TCPA principles prohibiting bundled consent remain in effect. Marketing experts emphasize this point:

"consent to contact cannot be implied or bundled with other agreements. It should be a standalone opt-in."[15]

Current TCPA law maintains strict requirements for Prior Express Written Consent (PEWC), including:

• Consent must be obtained separately for each marketing entity
• Cannot be bundled with other agreements
• Must be clear & unambiguous[16]

Penalties range from $500 to $1,500 per violation, with significant increases in TCPA litigation in recent years.[17] TCPA class action filings reached 2,788 cases in 2024 (a 67% increase from 2023) with January 2025 showing a 250% increase in class action filings year-over-year.[18]

Courts have previously enforced Indeed's arbitration agreements. In Gilbert v. Indeed, Inc. (2021), the Western District of Texas compelled arbitration of sexual harassment claims under the Federal Arbitration Act.[19]

Recruit Holdings reported declining performance:

• Q1 2024 HR Technology revenue: $1.83 billion (down 2.5% YoY)
• U.S. HR Tech revenue: $1.25 billion (down 5.0% YoY)
• Paid job ads on Indeed: down 50% YoY[20]

Indeed eliminated free job postings for companies using automated posting systems in October 2024, forcing employers into paid sponsorship models costing $300-1,000 per posting.[21]

The Federal Trade Commission reports task scams caused $220 million in losses in the first six months of 2024, representing nearly 40% of all job scam reports.[22] These scams increased from zero reports in 2020 to 5,000 in 2023, then quadrupled to approximately 20,000 in the first half of 2024.[23]

Better Business Bureau records show complaints about Indeed's information sharing practices, with one user stating: "Filling out job applications on Indeed has caused a leak in my information as well as others emails from unknown people & or companies never applied for."[24]

Users report receiving "1000 spam calls" after posting resumes on Indeed.[25] Indeed maintains an A+ Better Business Bureau rating & 3/5 stars on Trustpilot from 12,123+ reviews.[26]

Major job platforms have adopted unbundled consent mechanisms:

• LinkedIn: Uses separate, granular consent checkboxes distinguishing between recruiter outreach & LinkedIn marketing[27]
• Monster/CareerBuilder: Following their 2024 merger, overhauled their consent structure with separate controls for different communication types[28]
• ZipRecruiter: Has distinct opt-ins for their marketing versus employer communications[29]
• Glassdoor: In spite of controversial 2024 changes requiring real names, glassdoor keeps separate consent streams[30]

The Electronic Frontier Foundation emphasizes that bundled consent represents a "dark pattern" that subverts user autonomy.[31] The Federal Trade Commission's 2022 report "Bringing Dark Patterns to Light" specifically identified bundling as a problematic practice.[32]

GDPR requirements explicitly mandate granular consent with separate checkboxes for distinct purposes.[33] Privacy experts note that "consent must be freely given, specific, informed, & unambiguous" & cannot be bundled.[34]

Indeed has not issued standalone press releases addressing the Terms of Service changes or bundled consent practices. The company's official communication consisted of updates to the Indeed Legal page in early September 2025, explaining the Terms had changed, highlighting the arbitration clause, & noting the opt-out option.[35]

The company's Terms of Service state it is users' "sole responsibility to comply with all TCPA guidelines," shifting liability to employers while emphasizing Indeed is not responsible for employer communication practices.[36]

Regarding scams, Indeed states it "never reach[es] out to job seekers to offer employment through phone calls, text messages, or apps like WhatsApp or Telegram."[37]

Indeed's bundled consent checkbox creates TCPA compliance risks despite the January 2025 vacation of the FCC's one-to-one consent rule. Legal experts from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner note that "consumers must provide individual consent for contact to each specific seller," making Indeed's bundled approach legally problematic even after regulatory changes.[38]

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%.[39]

The Economic Policy Institute found mandatory arbitration covers 56.2% of U.S. employees, with 98% of workers' claims for rights violations disappearing when the only option is private, forced arbitration.[40]

Consumer advocates including Public Citizen identify mandatory arbitration clauses as "discriminatory & unfair," noting most people subject to pre-dispute arbitration clauses do not know they have waived court access rights.[41]

• 2023-03-22: Indeed lays off 2,200 employees (15% of workforce)
• 2024-05-08: Indeed lays off 1,000 employees (8% of workforce)
• 2024-10-01: Indeed eliminates free job postings for automated posting systems
• 2025-01-24: Eleventh Circuit vacates FCC's TCPA one-to-one consent rule
• 2025-06-02: CEO Chris Hyams resigns, replaced by Hisayuki Idekoba
• 2025-07-25: Indeed & Glassdoor lay off 1,300 employees
• 2025-08-22: Indeed publishes updated Terms of Service with arbitration agreement
• 2025-09-07: Indeed updates Legal page describing Terms changes

1. ↑ "Indeed Introduces Specialist Media Networks, Helping Employers Reach More Skilled Professionals Across Industry-Specific Sites to Hire for Hard-to-Fill Roles". Indeed Press Room. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
2. ↑ "Indeed to lay off 2,200 workers, reports job market poised to continue cooling". Staffing Industry. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
3. ↑ "Indeed lays off 1K employees, citing 'global slow-down' in hiring". HR Dive. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
4. ↑ "Indeed & Glassdoor to lay off 1,300 workers as AI shakes up job search business". CBS News. 2025-07-25. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
5. ↑ "Indeed CEO Chris Hyams resigns, hands reins over to former chief Hisayuki Idekoba". TechCrunch. 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
6. ↑ "Recruit Q1 revenue falls, Indeed sees decline in job postings". Staffing Industry. 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
7. ↑ "Terms of Service". Indeed Legal. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
8. ↑ "TCPA Compliance, Opt-out & Consent Requirements". Mac Murray & Shuster LLP. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
9. ↑ "TCPA Compliance, Opt-out & Consent Requirements". Mac Murray & Shuster LLP. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
10. ↑ "Terms of Service (Section D.12)". Indeed Legal. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
11. ↑ "Terms of Service (Section D.12 excerpts)". Indeed Legal. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
12. ↑ "Terms of Service (Section D.12(l) – 30-Day Opt-Out)". Indeed Legal. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
13. ↑ "FCC's One-to-One Consent Rule Vacated: What's Next for TCPA Compliance?". Perkins Coie. 2025-01-27. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
14. ↑ "Eleventh Circuit Vacates Robocall Consent Protection Before It Takes Effect". Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
15. ↑ "TCPA consent: The complete guide for marketers". ActiveProspect. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
16. ↑ "The Recruiter's Guide to the TCPA & Texting". PCRecruiter. 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
17. ↑ "What a TCPA Lawsuit Can Cost You". DNC.com. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
18. ↑ "TCPA CLASS ACTION FILINGS EXPLODE: The MASSIVE Final Numbers Are In for 2024–And January, 2025 Numbers Are INSANE". TCPAWorld. 2025-03-06. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
19. ↑ "Court Compels Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Claims Against Indeed". Pospis Law, PLLC. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
20. ↑ "Indeed & Glassdoor revenue declines, paid job ads down 50%". Staffing Industry. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
21. ↑ "Indeed - Upcoming Changes to Job Visibility: What Employers Need to Know". Augusta. 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
22. ↑ "New FTC Data Show Skyrocketing Consumer Reports About Game-Like Online Job Scams". Federal Trade Commission. 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
23. ↑ "Paying to get paid: gamified job scams drive record losses". Federal Trade Commission. 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
24. ↑ "Indeed". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
25. ↑ "Indeed Reviews". Trustpilot. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
26. ↑ "Indeed is rated "Average" with 3 / 5 on Trustpilot". Trustpilot. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
27. ↑ "LMS Program Terms". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
28. ↑ "CareerBuilder & Monster close combination". CareerBuilder. 2024-08-01. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
29. ↑ "ZipRecruiter Marketplace Terms". ZipRecruiter. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
30. ↑ "Glassdoor now wants your real name & employer". Information Age. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
31. ↑ "Privacy Shouldn't Clock Out When You Clock In: 2022 in Review". Electronic Frontier Foundation. 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
32. ↑ "FTC Report Shows Rise in Sophisticated Dark Patterns Designed to Trick & Trap Consumers". Federal Trade Commission. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
33. ↑ "What are the GDPR consent requirements?". GDPR.eu. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
34. ↑ "A Guide to Collecting Explicit Consent Under GDPR". Transcend. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
35. ↑ "Indeed Legal: Terms of Service". Indeed. 2025-09-07. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
36. ↑ "Terms of Service". Indeed Legal. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
37. ↑ "Text Messages or Phone Calls Claiming To Be Indeed? It Might Be a Scam". Indeed Support. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
38. ↑ "FCC's new 1:1 consent rule spells trouble in 2025". Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. 2025-01-10. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
39. ↑ "Study: 99% of Consumers Unaware they are Subject to Forced Arbitration". National Consumer Law Center. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
40. ↑ "The growing use of mandatory arbitration: Access to the courts is now barred for more than 60 million American workers". Economic Policy Institute. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
41. ↑ "Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Are Discriminatory & Unfair". Public Citizen. Retrieved 2025-09-10.