Google, Facebook and Twitter will stop processing requests for access to user data when submitted by the Hong Kong government. The companies are analyzing a new law, in the area of security, which came into force on July 1st. Orders already placed have also been paused.
Throughout the world, technology transfer user data to authorities upon legal request. However, as long as no conclusions are reached on this new document, none of the three mentioned will follow up on requests submitted by the Hong Kong government.
The law in question is another step away from the "one country, two systems" principle, which since the end of the 20th century has helped to regulate political relations between Hong Kong and China. Over the past few months, in the face of popular protests that have lasted for over a year in that territory, China has been increasing control over it. This new legislation was passed in order to limit political dissidents against the Chinese Communist Party and prohibits, more specifically, the "secession, subversion, organization and perpetration of terrorist activities and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to put at risk. national security ". Such powers are particularly important for social networks, since these platforms can host some of the activities prohibited with this document. Remember that all three of these companies are banned from China.
"We believe that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. We support the right that people have to express themselves without having to fear for their safety or other repercussions," said a spokesman for The Verge. from Facebook. The social network is analyzing the document together with organizations and human rights experts.