Zoom canceled, then reactivated, the account of a U.S.-based Chinese activist on Wednesday, Axios reported. It raises further concerns about how tech firms are being forced to engage in censorship to do business in the country.
Zoom has faced growing scrutiny over security concerns and its ties to China. Update: A Zoom spokesperson confirmed to Axios that the account had been closed “to comply with local law” and said it had now been re-activated. “Just like any global company, we must comply with applicable laws in the jurisdictions where we operate. When a meeting is held across different countries, the participants within those countries are required to comply with their respective local laws. We aim to limit the actions we take to those necessary to comply with local law and continuously review and improve our process on these matters. We have reactivated the US-based account.” — Zoom statement. Between the lines: This suggests Zoom closed the account due to concerns in China, which forbids free discussion of the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy movement.
Check It Out: Zoom Closes, Then Reactivates, Chinese Activist’s Account