[borski]

There is also another option. Suppose, for a moment, that I've sent my friend an email and he/she has allowed LinkedIn access to their Google Contacts, even though I have not...there is no reason LinkedIn wouldn't still show me them as a contact to add, since they know the connection. They just know it from the other side.

[wodenokoto]

Except LinkedIn very explicitly said that doesn't have to be the case, and the article shows examples of LinkedIn suggesting that the author invites non-users from his Gmail contacts to LinkedIn.

[salmonlogs]

Agreed - this is the assumption I have been working on and experienced too

[lancewiggs]

The article noted that this was also happening for email contacts who were not on Linked In.

[jostylr]

What about a third person, e.g., a mutual friend.