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Slack 'bans users' who have visited US sanctioned countries | Slack 'bans users' who have visited US sanctioned countries |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Some users of communication service Slack have reported their accounts have been closed over visits to countries under US sanctions. | Some users of communication service Slack have reported their accounts have been closed over visits to countries under US sanctions. |
The move, which Slack says is to comply with US regulations, is believed to be affecting users who have visited nations including Iran and North Korea. | The move, which Slack says is to comply with US regulations, is believed to be affecting users who have visited nations including Iran and North Korea. |
But many on social media say they were not warned in advance. | But many on social media say they were not warned in advance. |
Some have said they had not visited the countries in recent years, and believe their bans were in error. | Some have said they had not visited the countries in recent years, and believe their bans were in error. |
Cuba, Syria and Crimea are other countries and regions where Slack says its systems may not be used. | Cuba, Syria and Crimea are other countries and regions where Slack says its systems may not be used. |
Slack said it would individually review cases if users thought their account had been wrongly targeted. | |
The business messaging service is used by about eight million people every day in thousands of companies, including large firms like Airbnb and Ticketmaster. | The business messaging service is used by about eight million people every day in thousands of companies, including large firms like Airbnb and Ticketmaster. |
One user, on website Hacker News, complained that his wife's sudden ban meant she had now lost access to years of work data including messages and files. | One user, on website Hacker News, complained that his wife's sudden ban meant she had now lost access to years of work data including messages and files. |
He said she had been flagged for travelling, "legally" to Cuba "years ago" and seemed unable to appeal against the sudden closure. | He said she had been flagged for travelling, "legally" to Cuba "years ago" and seemed unable to appeal against the sudden closure. |
Another series of tweets, by a PhD student in Canada, said he believed he was included in the ban because of his Iranian ethnicity. | Another series of tweets, by a PhD student in Canada, said he believed he was included in the ban because of his Iranian ethnicity. |
People have been sharing their experiences using the hashtag #SlackBan. | People have been sharing their experiences using the hashtag #SlackBan. |
Some have questioned whether the move goes beyond the remit of US sanctions, which punishes firms in violation. | Some have questioned whether the move goes beyond the remit of US sanctions, which punishes firms in violation. |
In a statement to website Mashable, Slack said they "prohibit unauthorized Slack use in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region of Ukraine" to comply with US regulations. | In a statement to website Mashable, Slack said they "prohibit unauthorized Slack use in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region of Ukraine" to comply with US regulations. |
It added that its systems "may have detected an account and/or a workspace owner on our platform with an IP address originating from a designated embargoed country" but said it would "review further" cases where people feel their ban is in error. | It added that its systems "may have detected an account and/or a workspace owner on our platform with an IP address originating from a designated embargoed country" but said it would "review further" cases where people feel their ban is in error. |
It added: "If users think we've made a mistake in blocking their access, please reach out to feedback@slack.com and we'll review as soon as possible." |