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An image from LinkedIn's Chinese-language Web site.

After complaints and clear examples of bowing to Chinese censorship diktats, LinkedIn says it may have acted too hastily in friending Chinas government.

LinkedIn executives said Tuesday that they are reconsidering their policies, after seven months of censoring content from China deemed too sensitive.

"We do want to get this right, and we are strongly considering changing our policy so that content from our Chinese members that is not allowed in China will still be viewed globally, Hani Durzy, a spokesman for the Mountain View, Calif.-based company, told Bloomberg.

The professional social networking site is just the latest to wrestle with the moral quandaries that come with doing business in China amid the government's paranoia about the Internet. Facebook, Twitter and Google are largely blocked here.

LinkedIn, however, thought it could make it work. In February, the company launched its Chinese-language Web site and set up operations in China. In return, it promised to follow Chinese government rules and started self-censoring content.

But spokesman Durzy insisted back then that the company would do so only when legally required.

Then, in June, came the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The anniversary, a perennial headache for Web users in China, is marked by a clampdown on search terms, Internet speeds and intense government scrutiny.

LinkedIn users reported posts about Tiananmen being blocked even in Hong Kong, which lies outsides Chinas censorship firewall. LinkedIn said at the time that it was an accident.And it said that although such content was self-censored in China, it would remain accessible elsewhere in the world.

But some users said that wasnt true.

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WorldViews: LinkedIn thinking twice about its adoption of Chinas aggressive censorship

LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD: Quote) is reviewing its censorship policy in China so that content from its Chinese members that is not allowed in the Communist nation can be viewed globally, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

LinkedIn, the world's largest online professional social networking company, had expanded into China this year and adopted policies in line with that country's censorship rules. However, the company is now said to be strongly considering changing its censorship policy, according to the Bloomberg report.

The company is said to be informing people when content deemed inappropriate by the Chinese government is blocked. If a LinkedIn user in China shares a post that is in conflict with the Chinese government's rules, the content is blocked not only in China, but around the world, Bloomberg reported.

However, LinkedIn is said to be worried that the practice may end up preventing Chinese users who want to spread their messages outside their country. LinkedIn rolled out its Chinese website in February this year after earlier having only an English-language site there for more than a decade.

Other social-media companies too have struggled in China. Facebook Inc. (FB) remains banned in China, but was reportedly considering opening of a sales office to work with local advertisers there.

Facebook may open an office in the world's second-largest economy within a year to cater to the growing customer base there.

China is one among the relatively untapped markets for Facebook, whose social-networking service was banned by the Chinese government in 2009. The company uses an office in Hong Kong, and sells ads to Chinese customers who want to reach global audiences.

LNKD closed Tuesday's trading at $225.00, down $0.75 or 0.33 percent on a volume of 1.60 million shares. However, in after-hours, the stock gained $0.10 or 0.04 percent to $225.10.

by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com

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Bloomberg: LinkedIn Reviewing Censorship Policy In China

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The week #39;s most popular songs in Germany, ranked by sales data as compiled by Media Control. (Germany/Deutschland) Top 10 Songs of The Week - 30 November 2013 Beliebtesten Songs der Woche...

By: Carson Emma

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(Germany) Top 10 Songs of The Week - 30 November 2013 - Video

Communication and ground rules is key to keeping social media enjoyable and under control.

image credit: Journal art

By Dennis Box/editor The Enumclaw Courier-Herald

Social media is both a popular and polarizing issue for parents, school districts and students.

Understanding the ins and outs of social media means it can be a way for adults and kids to enjoy pictures, videos and interesting stories.

Being smart with social media is the key.

There is a dark side if used for the wrong ends. Social media can be dangerous if a few rules and precautions are not observed and understood.

Families and schools should communicate clearly on the rules of the road for cell phones, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Social media is a lightening fast form of communication, which can quickly and easily spin out of control.

Communication is the key to keeping social media under control and enjoyable.

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Back to school special report: Be smart with social media

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) expresses outrage over the passing of a contentious anti-media legislation that introduces strict media restrictions and heavy fines.

On Monday, 1 September 2014, Somalia's Council of Ministers narrowly passed a draft media law presented by the Minister of Information, Mustaf Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow, in an attempt to control the independent media under the guise of regulation.

"The broad restrictions laid out by this legislation invite both its abuse by Somali authorities to silence their critics, control independent media, disproportionately punish journalists and self-censorship on the part of journalists and media houses in order to avoid potential repercussions," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

"The government has not honoured its pledge to introduce a media law that would expand the margin for free expression and promote the media landscape".

Article 6 of the draft media law establishes a National Media Council, which consists of thirteen (13) members. 6 of the thirteen members will be appointed from the Ministry of Information while 4 members will be appointed from independent media. The remaining three members will be appointed from civil society, particularly from the National Human Rights Commission, the National Women's Organisation, the Solicitor General or the Somali Bar Association. The National Media Council shall be appointed by the Ministry of Information, according to article 6, provision 6.2 of the bill.

This article clearly establishes a media regulatory body which is dominated by the Ministry of Information with most of the members and is appointed by the same ministry. The council undoubtedly lacks independence, credibility and the journalistic community and the wider public will have no faith in it.

All media houses including newspapers must register at the Ministry of Information and pay an unspecified annual license fee to get a licence from the ministry, according to article 7, provision 7.3. This opens the door for the ministry to politicize the issuance of licenses and deny any media house that they may deem to be critical to them.

The draft media law further states that a journalist or media house shall pay a fine between US$5,000 to $10,000 for breach of the "code of ethics", according to article 3, provision 3.4.

As stated by article 21, any media house, which is found guilty by the National Media Council and penalized to pay a fine or compensation must publish or broadcast the judgment of the council, and upon failure to do so, the media house shall pay US$20,000 for penalty.

"The proposed drastic fines will impose an enormous restraint on freedom of the media, resulting in stifling the media, as well as self-censorship," added Osman.

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Somalia: Media Law Imposes Heavy Fines On Journalists for Breaching "Code of Ethics"