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Hongkongers, spooked by Beijing’s new national security law, are scrubbing their digital footprints
- Hong Kong officially adopted a new national security law imposed by Beijing on July 1
- Internet users worried of falling afoul of the new law are using encrypted messaging apps, scrubbing their social media posts and installing VPN software
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Sam Wong remembers exactly when he deleted his Facebook account.
An hour before the clock struck midnight on July 1, Hong Kong officially adopted a new national security law imposed by Beijing. Like many others living in the city, Wong only learned about the full details of the sweeping legislation after it was signed into law. By the time it came into force, he decided that the moment had come for him to quit the social media platform.
The social service manager in his early 30s, who spoke under a pseudonym for fear of jeopardising his job, joins other Hongkongers who are scrambling to protect their online privacy in the face of the new legislation.
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What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong
What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong
Under the law, offences of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment.
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Furthermore, the rules authorise the police to search electronic devices believed to contain criminal evidence, and require social media platforms and internet service providers to assist law enforcement without a warrant, according to industry experts.
TikTok, the short video app that has in the past denied censoring users’ content or sharing data with its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, said that it had decided to exit the Hong Kong market “in light of recent events”.
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WhatsApp owner Facebook, Google, Twitter and Zoom also said this week that they have suspended requests for user data from Hong Kong authorities as they monitor developments and assess the effect of the new law.
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