Zoom (NASDAQ:ZOOM) saw its shares fly Thursday, on word it had shut down the account of an activist who was holding an event on the video conferencing platform to commemorate China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown.
The move has prompted accusations that Zoom, a U.S. company, has bowed to pressure from Beijing.
U.S.-based rights group Humanitarian China held an event on Zoom on May 31 to commemorate those who lost their lives in the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in China’s Tiananmen Square in 1989. The topic is taboo in China and references to it online are heavily censored.
The account that hosted the event was shut down on June 7, according to Zhou Fengsuo, who founded Humanitarian China and took part in the 1989 protests as a student. The account has since been reinstated.
One company spokesperson said, "Like any global company, Zoom must comply with laws in the countries where we operate. We strive to limit actions taken to those necessary to comply with local law."
Zoom did not lay out any details about what those additional capabilities would be.
More than 250 people participated in the meeting while over 4,000 people streamed it online, according to Zhou, who accused Zoom of being complicit in Beijing’s censorship.
Zoom’s share price has risen over 220% this year because of a surge in users video conferencing while working from home amid lockdowns around the world. Those shares began Thursday ahead $6.71, or 3%, to $227.72.
Tech Insider
