LinkedIn — the professional networking giant owned by Microsoft — is under fire this week after quietly removing explicit protections for transgender and nonwhite users from its hate speech policies.
The changes, first flagged by the nonprofit Open Terms Archive and confirmed by The Advocate, eliminated references to misgendering and deadnaming as violations of LinkedIn's hate speech rules — a move that LGBTQ+ advocates are calling a dangerous step backward.
While LinkedIn insists it still prohibits harassment based on identity, critics say the updated language is vague and offers far less clarity for users — and moderators. GLAAD called the revision "an overt anti-LGBTQ+ shift" and part of a broader rollback of online safety for queer communities.
The move follows similar policy retreats by Meta and YouTube earlier this year, with LGBTQ+ rights groups warning that protections are eroding across all major social platforms.
Microsoft, which frequently touts its DEI commitments, has declined to comment further beyond LinkedIn's revised statement.
