Smartphone users in Russia can no longer download the LinkedIn app on iPhone or Android devices, as they have pulled the LinkedIn mobile app from their local app stores in Russia following the government’s demand to do so.
Accusing LinkedIn of flouting local laws that require Internet firms to store data on citizens within the nations borders, the Russian authorities have asked Apple and Google to remove the professional networking site app from their online stores. Earlier, a Russian court blocked the Microsoft-owned LinkedIn services for breaching the country’s data protection rules.
“Apple has confirmed that is was asked to remove its LinkedIn app from Russia about a month ago. However, Google has not confirmed if it had removed LinkedIn in Russia but said it adhered to Russian local laws,” New York Times stated.
A LinkedIn spokesperson confirmed the apps have been removed. Meanwhile, ‘LinkedIn responded that the company was very disappointed with the decision of Russian regulators to block the service.’ As LinkedIn has several million users in Russia.
Recently, Apple pulled another app from one of its international app stores – The New York Times app was blocked in China’s app store earlier this week for ‘Violating local regulations.’
China is known for banning digital sites like Facebook and Google that it believes harm its national security or promote misinformation. The Wall Street Journal’s Chinese-language site has been blocked since 2014.