LinkedIn has joined the growing number of companies and platforms that are rolling back policies aimed at protecting and affirming LGBTIQ+ identities.
According to Trans Europe and Central Asia (TGEU), the professional networking site—owned by Microsoft—has quietly removed a key part of its hate speech policy.
The section previously prohibited misgendering and deadnaming, practices widely considered harmful to transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
Targeted and Unannounced Change
TGEU reported that this was the only change LinkedIn has made to its hate speech policy in the past three years, suggesting it was “clearly targeting trans and gender diverse people.” The change was made without public announcement or consultation.
Misgendering refers to the act of intentionally referring to a trans person using incorrect pronouns or gender terms. Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender person’s former name instead of their chosen name, which aligns with their gender identity. Both actions are viewed as disrespectful and invalidating.
Broader Anti-Trans Trend in Tech
“This move is not an isolated case. It’s part of a wider anti-trans shift on social media platforms,” TGEU said in a statement.
“NGOs, activists, and community members rely on social media platforms to connect, share, organise, and drive change. But these same spaces are increasingly rolling back protections, leaving trans people and other marginalised groups vulnerable to harassment, misinformation, and harm,” the organisation added.
Earlier this year, YouTube removed gender identity as a protected characteristic under its hate speech policy. Meta—owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads—also made changes that now permit LGBTIQ+ people to be described as “abnormal” or “mentally ill.”
Corporate Shifts Under Political Pressure
While many of these tech giants have previously marketed themselves as progressive and supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, the recent policy changes signal a major shift. Critics argue that the companies are bowing to political pressure from the right-wing Trump administration in the United States and prioritising business interests over community safety.
In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order denouncing the principles of “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA) and dismantled such initiatives within government and among federal contractors.
Other companies including Brown-Forman (Jack Daniel’s), Molson Coors (the world’s third-largest brewer), Ford Motor Company, and Harley-Davidson have also since scaled back on their DEIA policies.
