Microsoft on Thursday said it will shut down career-oriented social network LinkedIn in China, citing a “challenging operating environment” as Beijing tightens control over tech firms, IgbereTV reports.
The US-based company will replace LinkedIn in China with an application dedicated to applying for jobs but without the networking features, according to senior vice president of engineering Mohak Shroff.
“We’re… facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China,” Shroff said in a blog post.
According to the Wall Street Journal, LinkedIn was given a deadline by Chinese internet regulators to better oversee content on the site.
LinkedIn, which launched in China in 2014, lets people use personal and professional relationships to find job opportunities.
