LinkedIn service resumes in China

25 February 2011 Last updated at 22:52 ET

Business networking site LinkedIn says access to its services appears to have been restored in China, a day after it was blocked there.

"We will continue to monitor the situation," a US spokesman for the site said.

Shortly before the site went offline on Friday, one user set up a forum, discussing the idea of a "Jasmine Revolution" in China.

The phrase has been used to describe the popular revolts in the Middle East.

The Agence France-Presse news agency says that one of its journalists in Beijing was able to access the LinkedIn site on Saturday.

Last weekend, a number of pro-democracy demonstrations were held across China, with police making a handful of arrests.

The protests are thought to have been organised in response to calls made on the website Boxun.com, access to which is banned inside mainland China.

Shortly afterwards, a LinkedIn user named Jasmine J created a group called Jasmine Voice.

In one posting, they wrote: "OMG, some pro-democracy fighters really did something here after the triumph of Egypt."

'Jasmine' blocked

China already exercises strict control over what citizens can view online, with many websites and politically sensitive subjects blocked. Access to Facebook and Twitter is barred.

But LinkedIn, which is used by a relatively small number of professionals, is accessible via domestic internet servers within China.

However the authorities there appear to have increased the level of filtering in response to the wave of popular uprisings across the Middle East.

Searches for the word "jasmine" are now blocked on the country's most popular website, Sina.com.

Internet users inside the country reported that some sites were also blocking information on Jon Huntsman, the US ambassador to Beijing.

Mr Huntsman was seen attending one of last weekend's pro-democracy rallies.

Campaign group Reporters Without Borders criticised the escalation in Chinese net censorship, accusing the authorities of trying to stamp out "all forms of freedom of expression".

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LinkedIn hit as China clamps down

25 February 2011 Last updated at 07:20 ET

Business networking site LinkedIn appeared to have been blocked in some parts of China, the company has said.

No explanation was given for the move, which LinkedIn is still investigating.

However, it comes amid a renewed clampdown on internet discussion groups and micro blogging sites by authorities in Beijing.

Shortly before the site went offline, one user set up a forum, discussing the idea of a "Jasmine Revolution" in China.

The phrase has been used to describe the popular revolts taking place across Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and several other countries.

Over the weekend, a number of pro-democracy demonstrations were held across China, with police making a handful of arrests.

The protests are thought to have been organised in response to calls made on the website Boxun.com, access to which is banned inside mainland China.

Shortly afterwards, a LinkedIn user named Jasmine J created a group called Jasmine Voice.

In one posting, they wrote: "OMG, some pro-democracy fighters really did something here after the triumph of Eygpt."

However, the message does not appear to be strongly for or against a Chinese revolution.

"The revolution here means turn the Chinese political system into multi-party democratic election and separation of the three powers. Who need this?" wrote Jasmine J.

At this stage, there is no evidence that the Chinese authorities were responsible for disrupting access to LinkedIn.

However, in a statement, company spokesman Hani Durzy said: "This appears to be part of a broader effort in China going on right now, involving other sites as well."

Some users in China reported that their access to LinkedIn had been restored during Friday.

'Jasmine' blocked

China already exercises strict control over what citizens can view online, with many websites and politically sensitive subjects blocked.

Authorities appear to have increased the level of filtering in response to the wave of popular uprisings across the Midde East.

Searches for the word "jasmine" are now blocked on the country's most popular website, Sina.com.

Internet users inside the country reported that some sites were also blocking information on Jon Huntsman, the US ambassador to Beijing.

Mr Huntsman was seen attending one of last weekend's pro-democracy rallies.

Campaign group Reporters Without Borders criticised the escalation in Chinese net censorship, accusing the authorities of trying to stamp out "all forms of freedom of expression".

In a recent speech, Chinese president Hu Jintao stressed the need to "build a socialist social management system."

He added: "Unhealthy practices that could harm people's rights and interests must be corrected resolutely."

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