[ad_1]
Alphabet’s Google mentioned on Friday it will now not present information in response to requests from Hong Kong authorities following the enactment of a brand new nationwide safety regulation imposed by China.
The US tech large had not produced any information for the reason that sweeping new regulation took power in June and wouldn’t straight reply to such requests henceforth, it added.
“As always, authorities outside the US may seek data needed for criminal investigations through diplomatic procedures,” Google mentioned in an emailed assertion.
Google reviewed all requests for consumer information and pushed again on “overly broad ones” to shield the privateness of customers, it added.
The Washington Post newspaper reported earlier on Friday that Google would cease responding straight to information requests from Hong Kong authorities, implying the corporate would now deal with Hong Kong successfully the identical as mainland China in such dealings.
The nationwide safety regulation has drawn criticism from the administration of US President Donald Trump and additional raised US-China tensions after Washington’s choice to finish the previous British colony’s particular standing beneath US regulation.
Google notified Hong Kong police on Thursday that it will direct officers to pursue any requests for information by way of a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the United States, which entails routing by way of the US Justice Department, the Washington Post reported.
In July, Facebook, Google, and Twitter suspended processing authorities requests for consumer information in Hong Kong.
Tech corporations have lengthy operated freely in Hong Kong, a monetary hub the place web entry has been unaffected by the firewall imposed in mainland China, which blocks Google, Twitter, and Facebook.
© Thomson Reuters 2020
[ad_2]
Source