By [ad_1]
Google, Twitter and Facebook are among tech companies considering an exit from Hong Kong, owing to data protection law changes.
Hong Kong has seen a series of drastic changes to its laws, many of which have resulted in businesses leaving or considering an exit from the South East Asian financial hub. Facebook, Twitter and Google are among the latest companies that may leave the special administrative region.
In a letter addressed to Hong Kong government officials, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) — which includes Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet Inc, Apple Inc and others as members — warned that proposed amendments to Hong Kong’s data protection laws would leave tech company employees open to criminal investigations or prosecutions relating to what Internet users post online. “The only way to avoid these sanctions for technology companies would be to refrain from investing and offering the services in Hong Kong,” the letter stated.
Furthermore, the AIC letter warned, “Introducing sanctions aimed at individuals is not aligned with global norms and trends.” It is worth noting that U.S-based tech companies have previously spoken out against some of the recently introduced laws in Hong Kong in the aftermath of the 2019 protests. Companies such as Facebook have turned down data requests from Hong Kong authorities after the national security law came into effect– a law that has been criticized by the international community for its vague definitions and wide applications.
The data protection law amendments are one of many such laws that were proposed in response to the 2019 pro-democracy protests. During the height of the protests, the city saw thousands of cases of doxing from both sides. Reports indicated that there were at least 1000 cases of both pro-government supporters acting to expose the identities of protesters and journalists, as well as protesters doxing pro-government police offers.
Hong Kong’s proposed data protection amendments do not explicitly mention doxing. The amendments criminalize the act of disclosing personal data without the data subject’s consent with the intent to threaten, intimidate or harass the subject or cause psychological harm to them or their family. Punishments for such an offense include a fine of up to HK$1 million ($128,800) and up to five years’ imprisonment.
The Hong Kong pro-democracy protests began in early 2019 in response to increasing attempts by the Chinese Communist Party-controlled government in mainland China to erode the democratic rights and freedoms promised to the inhabitants of Hong Kong by the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which ensured that the democratic system would remain unchanged until 2049.
Source: Wall Street Journal
About The Author
[ad_2]
