In recent news, tech giant, Microsoft has announced its plans to shut down LinkedIn social media service in China, mentioning a “challenging operating environment” as Beijing tightens authority over tech companies.
LinkedIn Social Media Service Will be Replaced by InJobs App
The news of Microsoft shutting down the LinkedIn social media service
comes after the career-networking site faced questions for blocking the profiles of some journalists. LinkedIn will roll out a jobs-only version of the platform, called InJobs, later this year. However, this will not involve a social feed or the capacity to share or post articles. LinkedIn senior vice-president Mohak Shroff blogged, “We’re facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China.”
Furthermore, the firm said in a statement concerning the shutdown of LinkedIn social media service: “While we are going to sunset the localized version of LinkedIn in China later this year, we will continue to have a strong presence in China to drive our new strategy and are excited to launch the new InJobs app later this year.”
Read more: LinkedIn Tests New Paid Ticketed Events Service to Host Virtual Events on the Platform
LinkedIn had been the only significant Western social-media platform operating in China. When it was rolled out there, in 2014, it had consented to adhere to the obligations of the Chinese government to operate there but further pledged to be transparent about how it conducted business in the nation and said it disagreed with government censorship.
LinkedIn Blocked Several Journalist Accounts
Recently, LinkedIn blocked several journalist accounts, including those of Melissa Chan and Greg Bruno, from its China-based website. Mr. Bruno, who has written a book documenting China’s treatment of Tibetan refugees, told Verdict he was not shocked that the Chinese Communist Party did not approve it but was “dismayed that an American tech company is caving into the demands of a foreign government”.
Moreover, the US senator Rick Scott described the shutdown of LinkedIn social media service as a “gross appeasement and an act of submission to Communist China”, in a letter to LinkedIn chief executive Ryan Roslansky and Microsoft boss Satya Nadella.
Source: BBC
