LinkedIn quietly removed references to deadnaming and misgendering from its hateful content policy

LinkedIn has quietly updated its hateful content policy, removing references to prohibiting the misgendering and deadnaming of transgender individuals. The change, noted by the organization Open Terms Archive, was the only modification to the "hateful and derogatory content" policy. A LinkedIn spokesperson stated that the company's underlying policies had not changed, and that personal attacks or intimidation toward anyone based on their identity, including misgendering, are still not allowed on the platform. However, advocacy groups like GLAAD have expressed alarm, viewing the move as part of a broader pattern of tech platforms loosening rules meant to protect vulnerable users. This update follows similar changes made by other social media companies, such as Meta and YouTube, which have also faced criticism for their decisions to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. The lack of a clear explanation from LinkedIn for the policy change has further raised concerns among advocacy groups about the company's commitment to supporting and protecting its transgender and non-binary users.