If I’m reading this right, at this point any internet operator trying to stay in Hong Kong will have to censor at the whims of police or face having it be censored for them by police. If companies don’t hand over user data it’s 100k fine/6 months in jail. https://t.co/BmXdZe0U0W https://t.co/kau53uKtpr
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
.@LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, is also "pausing" its processing of data requests from Hong Kong law enforcement officials as it reviews the national security law. That's in addition to Facebook, Google, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Zoom. pic.twitter.com/u6xlntmGXG
— Mary Hui (@maryhui) July 7, 2020
Weird as it seems, this is an ironic admission that HK is now just like China in ByteDance’s eye.
— Renaud Haccart (@RHaccart) July 7, 2020
TikTok has been trying to distance itself from China’s long shadow by not operating in China (ByteDance has another app for that). So now, the message is HK = China. https://t.co/SWy7YMIPBg
As recently as four hours ago @signalapp claimed they had no data to turn over to governments, but that is no longer true once a PIN is enabled, and as of the most recent update there is no longer a way to opt-out from uploading your data to their servers. https://t.co/XSysFIrWAi
— Trammell Hudson ✪ (@qrs) July 6, 2020
"In light of recent events, we've decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong," spokesperson tells @axios, after China's national security law came into effect.
— Kristine Servando (@tinssoldier) July 7, 2020
TikTok's operator has said it hasn't shared data with the Chinese government nor would it, report says. https://t.co/jAIYq8C4xp
TikTok making vanity plays out here https://t.co/aoTei9YCEv
— A Saleh (@Dude_Br0) July 7, 2020
And because the nat sec law applies to anyone anywhere, it means police can demand posts be taken down that were put up by people outside HK. Similarly can demand data on people outside HK. We’ll see how it’s enforced, but if it is, not sure I see how tech cos can stay in HK.
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
Important thread. Is HK about to fall inside the Firewall? Tech giants not ready to comply. Whatsapp assessing human rights issues. https://t.co/0L215KKqHT
— Sari Arho Havrén (@SariArhoHavren) July 6, 2020
Given Beijing's repressive "national security" law for Hong Kong, Facebook says it will temporarily stop processing Hong Kong government requests for user data. https://t.co/0FXA5J0NOb pic.twitter.com/0NdxUX4T7P
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) July 6, 2020
Hm, okay, the Chinese tech firm leaves Hong Kong over security concerns that requests for data under the Chinese national security law can lead to? ? There is another place to exit my friends... ↘️ https://t.co/wUYGaTIeAn
— Marietje Schaake (@MarietjeSchaake) July 7, 2020
Facebook temporarily halts giving user data to Hong Kong authorities as it reviews the national security law. A big move that will not go down well in Beijing. This sets the stage for a back and forth that will sculpt the future of HK internet freedoms. https://t.co/DFZ1bAbX2q
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
Oof: “the commissioner of police is to be given powers to control the dissemination of information online, when they have “reasonable grounds” to suspect such information may lead to national security crimes.” https://t.co/aabrIk3oYG
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
This is fascinating and important to watch, especially given the India-China situation wrt apps. This is about WhatsApp pausing reviews of law enforcement requests in Hong Kong post the National Security Law.
— Nikhil Pahwa (@nixxin) July 6, 2020
(1/n) https://t.co/50PtraAGmj
TikTok to pull out of Hong Kong...does that mean HK goes into the Douyin bubble? https://t.co/QaiI9dQLTD
— Karson Yiu (@karsonwhy) July 7, 2020
The implication that Twitter was complying with information requests from Hong Kong authorities previously is alarming if true. Did anyone follow this up with the company? https://t.co/fYyLlmzRKH
— Pinboard (@Pinboard) July 6, 2020
In last 24hrs @telegram @Twitter & @Facebook have said they’re pausing acceding to requests for user data from #HK authorities in wake of #CCP security law while @signalapp has said it never has or will. Huge CCP PR disaster https://t.co/NnkfyxeEC1
— Kong Tsung-gan / 江松澗 (@KongTsungGan) July 6, 2020
TikTok to pullout of HK, reports @axios. But then again TikTok isn't available in China either. Bytedance has a separate version for mainland China, Douyin. I guess this move is a precursor to introducing Douyin to Hong Kong? https://t.co/7bD5f8w5Fj
— Sumil Sudhakaran (@SumilVS) July 7, 2020
Just in, WhatsApp "pausing" reviews of law enforcement requests in Hong Kong until an assessment including human rights consultations of the new realities brought by the National Security Law. We're in unprecedented territory with the law, tech cos very much caught in the middle.
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
Here's a part of the statement: "We will pause reviewing law enforcement requests for WhatsApp user data from the HK government pending further assessment of the impact of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence+consultations with HR experts.”
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
Are they going to pull out of China while they’re at it ? https://t.co/5s2KyvTjos
— James Allworth (@jamesallworth) July 7, 2020
Same question for Facebook. What was it handing over to Hong Kong authorities over before, during the year when at least some protesters were relying on Facebook products for secure messaging? https://t.co/D0HUJslF3R
— Pinboard (@Pinboard) July 6, 2020
Telegram made a similar call today too. The back and forth over this will begin to chart a path for the future of Hong Kong's internet under the national security law. It may well be internet cos. decide to treat HK requests as they would China ones. Which would be a big change.
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
And more now: Facebook just issued a statement saying it too is pausing review of government requests for user data from Hong Kong pending further assessment of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence. Eyes on Google and Twitter now... https://t.co/Xr9vxvC7jS
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
“TikTok said last September it had 150,000 users in Hong Kong. While that number has probably gone up since, it is still a small market and not yet a profitable one either, according to the company.” https://t.co/PjdfShhtyN
— Timothy McLaughlin (@TMclaughlin3) July 7, 2020
Good. Hope other US, Indian, and European companies follow suit, whatever the business consequences. https://t.co/aXzaJv11tL
— Soham Sankaran (@sohamsankaran) July 6, 2020
Here's the Facebook statement: "We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions. We have a global process for government requests and in reviewing each..."
— Paul Mozur 孟建国 (@paulmozur) July 6, 2020
Every American must understand the risk from apps including @tiktok_us that are used by the Chinese Gov’t to spy on Americans.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) July 7, 2020
That’s why I introduced a bill that would ban TikTok on US government phones. I’m glad @SecPompeo & the Administration are taking this threat seriously. https://t.co/KZVWzZEpcl
Sounds...just like China. https://t.co/uoYADefFP7
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) July 6, 2020
Exclusive: Telegram to temporarily refuse data requests from Hong Kong courts amid security law 'terrorism' row https://t.co/MXoKXGZCuZ @telegram #Hongkong #china pic.twitter.com/Hd90gVi8EH
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@HongKongFP) July 5, 2020
Have gotten so many notifications of my HK contacts signing up for signal in the last few days https://t.co/c7NimwrA2S
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 6, 2020
My first guess is that either tech firms comply or they face getting banned in HK - once again, there is little marginal cost for the Party to do stuff that upsets the West (and local liberals) in HK https://t.co/irKzc8OCAz
— 荊楚土農 (@Hubei_Peasant) July 6, 2020
Facebook Temporarily Stops Hong Kong Data Requests
— Charles Mok 莫乃光 (@charlesmok) July 6, 2020
The social network said it would review the city’s punitive new national security law, a rare public questioning of Chinese policy by a large American tech company.https://t.co/1DuVMikgsL
Hong Kong police given power conduct warrantless searches, restrict movement, freeze assets and control information online, according to new details of security law https://t.co/CZal9rBSo7
— Factal News (@factal) July 6, 2020
Yeah? Wow, if only someone could have foreseen that @Facebook might land itself in the some major human rights violations (again.) Nice going, assholes https://t.co/cTXNmFbER1
— Brooke Binkowski (@brooklynmarie) July 6, 2020
Signal, virtuing https://t.co/6logfxPe7x
— Jason Crawford (@jasoncrawford) July 6, 2020
Biz doesn't think this law will change anything... If an internet company fails to comply to turn over data in cases related to national security, it faces a fine of $13,000 and 6 months in prison for an employee. Police can order internet posts be deleted. https://t.co/Zjn2vDtNdu
— Alexandra Stevenson (@jotted) July 7, 2020
The company is “pausing” such reviews “pending further assessment of the impact of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with human rights experts,” a WhatsApp spokeswoman said in response to a Wall Street Journal query on Monday https://t.co/GK6GdbTQWj
— Natasha Khan (@natashakhanhk) July 6, 2020
.@tiktok_us is an extension of the Communist Chinese government and needs to be banned in America. The President and @SecPompeo will thoroughly and swiftly determine what’s best. We cannot allow them to operate and be a conduit back to #China. #BanTikTok https://t.co/5QKw1PR8X0
— Rep Rick Crawford (@RepRickCrawford) July 7, 2020
Hong Kong national security law: TikTok to quit city as tech giant becomes first to withdraw over sweeping police powers https://t.co/HY4xTyt6g5
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) July 7, 2020
Hong Kong national security law: TikTok to quit city as tech giant becomes first to withdraw over sweeping police powers | South China Morning Post https://t.co/Vx0k5Fbukb
— Peter Zeihan (@PeterZeihan) July 7, 2020
Sec. of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. would "certainly look at" banning Chinese social media apps including short-form video app TikTok over national security and privacy concerns https://t.co/esfDaSPPCj
— THR International (@THRGlobal) July 7, 2020
Pompeo's remarks come after India banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok and WeChat, last week over national security and privacy concerns. TikTok had over 200m user in India https://t.co/tFmRGTKcno via @thr
— Äbid Rahman (@gentlemanabroad) July 7, 2020
Google, Facebook and Twitter pause data requests from Hong Kong police https://t.co/hUBQngq7ag via @SiliconANGLE #HongKong #data #bigtech
— Robert Hof (@robhof) July 7, 2020
Here's a story with @karenhwchiu on how Hongkongers are purging their online presence, turning to encryption and VPN tools as Beijing's national security law allows the government to go after anyone over any comment, be it old or new, public or private. https://t.co/JPdktVCYbh
— Josh Ye 葉嘉栩 (@TheRealJoshYe) July 7, 2020
Social video app TikTok will pull out of app marketplaces in Hong Kong due to a new national security law, which threatens free expression in the semiautonomous region. https://t.co/g9lkebKYll
— Adweek (@Adweek) July 7, 2020