Zoom Caught in China Censorship Crossfire As Meetings Foiled

Video app company Zoom said it regretted that some meetings involving U.S.-based Chinese dissidents were disrupted, as meanwhile a prominent Hong Kong activist said his account was blocked despite the city’s guarantees of free speech.

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Zoom is headquartered in San Jose, California, but conducts much of its research and development in mainland China. Use of the virtual meetings app has skyrocketed during the pandemic.

The company confirmed reports that it had reactivated the Zoom accounts of a U.S.-based group of dissidents that were suspended after they held an online event commemorating the June 4, 1989, crackdown on protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

“We regret that a few recent meetings with participants both inside and outside of China were negatively impacted and important conversations were disrupted,” Zoom said in a statement.