Tech Firms May Quit Hong Kong Due to Privacy Law: Asia Industry Group

An Asian business group that features Google, Facebook, and Twitter has warned that tech corporations may cease providing their providers in Hong Kong if the Chinese territory proceeds with plans to alter privateness legal guidelines.

The warning got here in a letter despatched by the Asia Internet Coalition, of which all three corporations, along with Apple, LinkedIn, and others, are members.

Proposed amendments to privateness legal guidelines in Hong Kong may see people hit with “severe sanctions”, stated the June 25 letter to the territory’s privateness commissioner for private information, Ada Chung Lai-ling, with out specifying what the sanctions could be.

“Introducing sanctions aimed at individuals is not aligned with global norms and trends,” added the letter, whose contents have been first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

“The only way to avoid these sanctions for technology companies would be to refrain from investing and offering their services in Hong Kong, thereby depriving Hong Kong businesses and consumers, whilst also creating new barriers to trade.”

In the six-page letter, The particulars of some officers’ dwelling addresses have been shared on-line and private information privateness of people. “However, we wish to stress that doxxing is a matter of serious concern,” he wrote.

During anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019, doxxing – or publicly releasing non-public or figuring out details about a person or organisation – got here beneath scrutiny when police have been focused after their particulars have been launched on-line.

The particulars of some officers’ dwelling addresses and youngsters’s colleges have been additionally uncovered by anti-government protesters, a few of who threatened them and their households on-line.

“We … believe that any anti-doxxing legislation, which can have the effect of curtailing free expression, must be built upon principles of necessity and proportionality,” the AIC stated.

Facebook didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark, whereas Twitter referred inquiries to the AIC.

Google declined to remark.

The former British colony of Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the assure of continued freedoms. Pro-democracy activists say these freedoms are being whittled away by Beijing, particularly with a nationwide safety legislation launched final yr cracking down on dissent. China denies the cost.

© Thomson Reuters 2021