LinkedIn ends operations in China after self-censorship backlash

"LinkedIn will end its operations in China more than a week after it was in the spotlight for blocking access to US journalists for its China-based users. "We decided after facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China. We have not found the same level of success in the more social aspects of sharing and staying informed," the Microsoft-owned platform said in a statement."

"They received takedown notifications from LinkedIn and their pages are now not viewable in China, nor are comments they post on the platform or any other content they share. Allen-Ebrahimian has been covering mass internment camps in Xinjiang, where the Chinese government has been accused of subjecting Uygurs and other ethnic minority groups to detention, political indoctrination, and forced labor."

"LinkedIn said it would replace its Chinese service, which restricts some content to comply with local government demands, with a job-board service lacking social-media features, such as the ability to share opinions and news stories. Since 2014, LinkedIn is the only major western social media platform that Beijing permits to operate in China as it has agreed to act against users deemed in violation of Chinese law."

LinkedIn will end its operations in China after citing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements. The Microsoft-owned platform paused new member sign-ups in China in March 2021 to ensure compliance with local law and to better regulate content. LinkedIn blacklisted accounts of Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian and independent journalists Melissa Chan and Greg Bruno; they received takedown notifications and their pages and comments are not viewable in China. Allen-Ebrahimian covered mass internment camps in Xinjiang, accused of detaining Uygurs and other minorities for indoctrination and forced labor. LinkedIn plans to replace the Chinese social service with a restricted job-board lacking social sharing and news features, and LinkedIn had been the only major western social platform permitted to operate in China under compliance agreements since 2014.

Read at The Drum