Hong Kong's Fight for Internet Freedom

Thursday - May 16 2024, 03:24 UTC - 8 months ago

The Hong Kong Court of Appeal granted the city government an injunction allowing them to request for the removal of the protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" on Western platforms. This decision highlights the threat of censorship and the importance of internet freedom in Hong Kong for both the city and the global community.

On May 16, 2024, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal made a decision that sent shockwaves through the country. The court granted an injunction allowing the city's government to request for the removal of the protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" on Western platforms like YouTube and Spotify. This anthem, which has become a symbol of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, was deemed seditious by the government.

This legal case, which has been ongoing for almost a year, serves as a perfect example of how censorship can slowly creep into societies. China's censorship regime is well-known for its power and control, but this incident in Hong Kong shows that even in places with historically free internet access, censorship can take hold.

Unlike mainland China, Hong Kong's internet has been relatively open. Most Western platforms and services are still accessible in the city, with only a few websites being censored in recent years. This access to information and communication tools has played a significant role in Hong Kong's success as a financial hub and a hub for global industries, such as crypto.

The potential impact of this injunction on the global crypto industry is one example of how internet freedom in Hong Kong is important not just for the city, but for the world. Imagine a "global" crypto industry that couldn't access platforms like Twitter or Discord – it simply would not be possible for businesses to function efficiently in this scenario.

Experts speculate that the government will not request for the removal of the banned videos for users globally, but will instead ask for them to be geo-blocked only in Hong Kong. This further highlights the global implications of this decision, as it could set a precedent for other countries to request for content to be blocked within their borders.

The response from the international community to this decision has been mixed. The Hong Kong government is eagerly waiting to see how platforms like Google will react, while some videos have already been taken down (though the reason for their removal is still unclear). Michael Mo, a former district councilor in Hong Kong, created the website "gloryto.hk" in response to the injunction last June. Despite this being a test of sorts for the local domain registry, Mo has not faced any action so far.

The fight for internet freedom in Hong Kong is far from over. As tensions continue to rise between the city's government and pro-democracy activists, it is clear that this case will have significant consequences for both Hong Kong and the world at large. It is up to all of us to stay informed and monitor the situation as it unfolds.