Didi Global Suspends Product Launches In The UK And Europe, This Is The Reason

Didi Global is under cybersecurity review. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA – Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Global Inc has suspended plans to launch its products in the UK and continental Europe. According to a report by The Telegraph on Monday, August 23, this was due to a reaction to domestic regulations on data privacy.

Staff working on the launch event have been told they are facing possible redundancy and Didi has stopped hiring in the UK. They pulled the launch plan for at least a year.

"We are continuing to explore additional new markets, liaising with relevant stakeholders in each and thinking about when to introduce our services," a Didi spokesperson said, without specifying when a UK launch was planned.

"As soon as we have more news about the addition of a new market, we look forward to sharing information about it (planned launch)," the spokesman said.

Today's Chinese companies have been caught up in the pressure with increased US scrutiny on the one hand and a domestic regulatory crackdown on the country's massive internet sector.

The move has rocked the country's tech giants and Didi is under cybersecurity review. Because China has changed its policy on data privacy and security to ensure the safe storage of user data.

Didi, who listed his shares in New York in June after raising $4.4 billion in an initial public offering. They are looking to expand their international business with recent launches in South Africa, Ecuador and Kazakhstan.