Editorial | Abuse of journalists an attack on press freedom
- As well as putting themselves in danger, those reporting on violent clashes in the city have suffered harassment after personal details were revealed online
Journalism is not without its dangers, especially in conflict zones around the world. A heavy death toll in the line of duty attests to that. Reporters usually have to go to troubled places to be at risk.
But now trouble has come to Hong Kong. Elements of rolling anti-government mass protests have resorted to violence. Journalists trying to do the job readers, listeners and viewers expect of them are familiar figures on the front lines or even in contested territory between police and protesters.
Not surprisingly some bear the scars of collateral damage from pitched battles. Thankfully, none has been seriously injured or killed.
But journalists have not escaped a sinister manifestation of the cyber theatre of the civil unrest – doxxing, or the online disclosure of personal details including addresses, phone numbers, social media accounts and photos that leads to them being harassed.
Used against police and even their families, such abuse of privacy is a direct challenge to law and order. Used to intimidate journalists it shows contempt for a core value enshrined in the Basic Law, freedom of the press, which holds authority accountable for abuse of power.