LinkedIn-Russia: US Says Concerned Over Decision to Block Professional Networking Site (ndtv.com)

The US government said on Friday it was deeply concerned over Russia's decision to block public access to networking site LinkedIn, saying it created a precedent that could be used to justify blocking other sites operating in Russia. From a report: LinkedIn, which has its headquarters in the United States, is the first major social network to be blocked under a new law that requires firms holding Russian citizens' data to store it on servers on Russian soil. Internet services analysts say other tech firms, including Facebook and Twitter, could also find access blocked unless they move data onto Russian-based servers. Maria Olson, spokeswoman at the US Embassy in Moscow, said Washington urged the Russian authorities to restore access immediately to LinkedIn, and said the restrictions harmed competition and the Russian people. "The United States is deeply concerned by Russia's decision to block access to the website LinkedIn," Olson said in a statement sent to Reuters. "This decision is the first of its kind and sets a troubling precedent that could be used to justify shutting down any website that contains Russian user data."

Comments

Re:Linkedin provides a service in Russia so it sho

[Archtech]

Russia has a $20 billion budget deficit its looking to plug. Facebook, LinkedIn,Google and Twitter can plug a nice big chunk of it.

Er, 'For FY 2016 the federal budget estimates that the [US] federal debt will increase by about $1 trillion. That's about $250 billion more than the official “deficit.”' http://www.usgovernmentdebt.us...

So the US government must be 50 times as hungry for extra revenues as the Russian government. Furthermore...

"On January 26, 2016, debt held by the public was $13.62 trillion or about 75% of the previous 12 months of GDP. Intragovernmental holdings stood at $5.34 trillion, giving a combined total gross national debt of $18.96 trillion or about 104% of the previous 12 months of GDP". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Meanwhile Russia's national debt is 9.7 trillion. Oh, what's that you say? That's in rubles? So what's it in dollars? Oh, I see: about $151 billion. Gee, that's awful - that's nearly one percent of the US national debt. Those Russians are in real hot water now! http://www.nationaldebtclocks....

Re:The real issue

[anegg]

Or the U.S. policy on web-based gambling... see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_gambling and scroll down to the section on the United States.