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National security law: Google urges Hong Kong police to use ‘diplomatic procedures’ for data requests
- Tech giant’s move will make it more difficult for the Hong Kong government to collect data
- Google spokesman says that following the activation of the legislation it has not produced user data for Hong Kong authorities
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Google has stopped responding directly to data requests from Hong Kong police since the Beijing-imposed national security law took effect in the city about six weeks ago and is urging the force to work through “diplomatic procedures” instead.
The tech giant’s move will make it more difficult for the Hong Kong government to collect data, as a mutual legal assistance pact between the city and the United States allows the latter to refuse requests over offences of a political nature, according to a lawyer.
At the heart of tech firms’ concerns are the sweeping powers under the new legislation, which gives police the right to search electronic devices that may contain evidence of a national security offence.
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Soon after the law took effect on June 30, internet firms and social media platforms including Google and Facebook put requests for user data from Hong Kong under review.
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The Washington Post reported that Google notified police on Thursday that after reviewing the new law it would redirect official requests for data through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
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