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Facebook, which additionally owns WhatsApp and Instagram, stated it was “pausing” opinions for all of its providers “pending further assessment of the National Security Law.”
- Reuters
- Last Updated: July 7, 2020, 10:44 AM IST
Facebook Inc, Google Inc and Twitter Inc suspended processing authorities requests for consumer information in Hong Kong, they stated on Monday, following China’s institution of a sweeping new nationwide safety regulation for the semi-autonomous metropolis. Facebook, which additionally owns WhatsApp and Instagram, stated in an announcement it was “pausing” opinions for all of its providers “pending further assessment of the National Security Law.”
Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, and Twitter stated they suspended their opinions of information requests from Hong Kong authorities instantly after the regulation went into impact final week. Twitter cited “grave concerns” concerning the regulation’s implications. Google stated it might proceed reviewing Hong Kong authorities requests for removals of user-generated content material from its providers. Twitter declined to remark, whereas Facebook didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Social networks usually apply localized restrictions to posts that violate native legal guidelines however not their very own guidelines for acceptable speech. Facebook restricted 394 such items of content material in Hong Kong in the second half of 2019, up from eight in the primary half of the 12 months, in line with its transparency report. Tech firms have lengthy operated freely in Hong Kong, a regional monetary hub the place web entry has been unaffected by the firewall imposed in mainland China, which blocks Google, Twitter and Facebook.
Apple stated Monday it doesn’t obtain requests for consumer content material straight from the Hong Kong authorities. Instead, it requires authorities there to submit requests underneath a mutual U.S.-Hong Kong authorized help treaty. The U.S. Department of Justice receives the requests and opinions them for “legal conformance,” Apple stated. “We’re assessing the new law, which went into effect less than a week ago, and we have not received any content requests since the law went into effect,” Apple stated in an announcement.
China’s parliament handed the brand new nationwide safety laws for the semi-autonomous metropolis final week, setting the stage for essentially the most radical adjustments to the previous British colony’s lifestyle because it returned to Chinese rule 23 years in the past. Some Hong Kong residents stated they have been reviewing their earlier posts on social media associated to pro-democracy protests and the safety regulation, and proactively deleting ones they thought can be seen as delicate.
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