The video chat platform Zoom is reportedly working on a feature that will enable the cloud-based platform to block users based on geography.
“Zoom is developing technology over the next several days that will enable us to remove or block at the participant level based on geography,” said the company in a blog post.
Sources said the move would entitle the company to comply with requests from local authorities to prevent any illegal activity within their borders.
It is worth noting that California-based Zoom recently admitted that it deactivated the accounts of several pro-democracy Chinese activists based in the US and online commemorations of the Tiananmen Square massacre at the request of China. The company was also widely condemned for suspending the accounts.
Zoom’s acknowledgement also drew the U.S. lawmakers’ attention over Zoom’s co-operation with the Chinese government.
However, the platform clarified and said, “Going forward Zoom will not allow requests from the Chinese government to impact anyone outside of mainland China.”
