Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Global has suspended plans to launch in the U.K. and the rest of Europe as the company faces pressure from its home country over privacy issues.
The Telegraph reports that the company is caught between increasing scrutiny from the United States and a crackdown by Chinese regulators on the Chinese internet sector.
The report stated that staff working on the planned launches have been told they may face possible redundancy and Didi has halted hiring in the U.K., pushing back launch plans for at least a year.
A Didi spokesperson said of the latest development: “We continue to explore additional new markets, liaising with relevant stakeholders in each and being thoughtful about when to introduce our services. As soon as we have any more news on additional new markets, we look forward to sharing.”
Chinese technology companies, including Didi, are undergoing a cybersecurity review as China restructures its privacy and data protection policies to ensure better storage of user data.
For more information, read the original story in Reuters.