LinkedIn, now blocked in Russia, is keen to discuss data localization with watchdog
Soon-to-be Microsoft-owned professional social network LinkedIn has been banned in Russia over concerns the data of some six million users are being stored on foreign servers.
LinkedIn is blocked in Russia
Russia’s communication watchdog, the Roskomnadzor, made the announcement on Thursday (17 November). A court decision deemed that the social network should be blocked until it adheres to the nation’s rules – first implemented in September.
The Next Web reports that Germany made a similar request last year, which resulted in LinkedIn opening a data centre there.
A LinkedIn spokesperson told The Drum: “LinkedIn’s vision is to create economic opportunity for the entire global workforce. We are starting to hear from members in Russia that they can no longer access LinkedIn.
"Roskomnadzor's action to block LinkedIn denies access to the millions of members we have in Russia and the companies that use LinkedIn to grow their businesses. We remain interested in a meeting with Roskomnadzor to discuss their data localization request.”
The decision is still open to appeal from LinkedIn. The move will undoubtfully serve as a warning to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook who also have localised data centres in Russia.