Facebook and its messaging app WhatsApp said in separate statements Monday that they might freeze the review of state requests for user data in Hong Kong , pending further assessment of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with international human rights experts.
The policy changes follow the rollout last week of laws prohibiting what Beijing views as secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities, or as foreign intervention within the territory's internal affairs.
The legislation criminalizes some pro-democracy slogans just like the widely used Liberate Hong Kong , revolution of our time, which the Hong Kong government says has separatist connotations.
The fear is that the new law erodes the freedoms of the semi-autonomous city, which has operated under a 1 country, two systems" framework after Britain handed the colony to China in 1997.
That framework has allowed Hong Kong and its people freedoms not found in China , like unrestricted internet access.
Spokesman Mike Ravdonikas said Monday that Telegram understands the importance of protecting the proper to privacy of our Hong Kong users.
Telegram has been used broadly to spread pro-democracy messages and knowledge about the protests in Hong Kong .
Telegram has never shared any data with the Hong Kong authorities within the past and doesn't shall process any data requests associated with its Hong Kong users until a world consensus is reached in reference to the continued political changes within the city, he said.
Twitter also paused all data and knowledge requests from Hong Kong authorities after the law went into effect last week, the corporate said. it's studying the implications of the safety law.
Like many public interest organisations, civil society leaders and entities, and industry peers, we've grave concerns regarding both the developing process and therefore the full intention of this law, the corporate said during a statement.
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