LinkedIn Chinese version bends to censorship rules

(02-25 14:08)

Business networking site LinkedIn has launched a Chinese version and admitted consenting to censorship conditions. Foreign tech giants are required to abide by strict rules to operate in the country, and unlike the English-language version of LinkedIn, the new site does not currently allow group discussions. LinkedIn pledged to be limited and open about its compliance. As a condition for operating in the country, the government of China imposes censorship requirements on internet platforms,'' it said in an online statement posted Sunday. It promised that government restrictions on content will be implemented only when and to the extent required'' and that it will be transparent about how it conducts business in China. LinkedIn strongly supports freedom of expression and fundamentally disagrees with government censorship. At the same time, we also believe that LinkedIn's absence in China would deny Chinese professionals a means to connect with others on our global platform,'' it said. The company said it was targeting more than 140 million Chinese users nearly half its existing 277 million global members. Its English-language version has been available in China for more than a decade, where it has attracted four million users, it said. --AFP

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LinkedIn Chinese version bends to censorship rules