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Linktree goes dark in India — and the company isn’t sure why
Linktree, a popular link-in-bio service, has been inaccessible in India for several days without explanation. Users reported issues on X. Initially blocked by the Indian government, the site now shows a generic SSL error. Linktree has begun investigating the outage, which affects all major networks in India and could hinder its growing user base, which significantly relies on Indian traffic.
Key points
- Linktree experienced outage in India for several days.
- Users reported issues on social media platform X.
- Initially, a message indicated a government blockage; now a generic SSL error appears.
- Linktree's app is also inaccessible in India.
- India accounts for 3.5% of Linktree's global visits, roughly 7.3 million in July 2024.
- Linktree co-founder confirms investigation but lacks communication from Indian authorities.
- The outage affects all major internet service providers in India.
Why it matters
- Linktree's blockage in India reflects increasing scrutiny of tech services by local governments, similar to recent bans on other digital platforms.
- The incident is part of a larger trend where digital companies face regulatory challenges in international markets.
- India's growing internet penetration and creation ecosystem make it crucial for platforms like Linktree.
The ongoing outage of Linktree in India raises concerns over digital accessibility and government intervention in tech services, highlighting the need for clarity and communication in the relationship between startups and local authorities.