Tech giants are resisting China’s new grip

The China Letter: July 9, 2020

Jul 09, 2020

It is unclear when TikTok — which is owned by Beijing-based startup ByteDance — will exit Hong Kong, and what that will mean for the app's users in the city.

cnn.itTikTok is leaving Hong Kong following controversial national security lawTikTok said it will exit the Hong Kong market, joining other popular social media platforms expressing unease after China imposed a controversial national security law on the city.

TikTok has turned out to be the most prominent symbol of Beijing’s battles with the world, now that it’s been banned by India along with other apps from China, and faces possible similar sanction from the U.S. The company behind the app says it has never shared data with the Chinese government, and will exit Hong Kong to avoid doing so.

WION @WIONews

.@Microsoft and @zoom_us said they are pausing consideration of data requests by officials or police in Hong Kong, a precaution also taken by @Facebook, @Google and @Twitter

wionews.comNational security law: Now, Microsoft and Zoom pause requests for Hong Kong dataMicrosoft and Zoom on Tuesday joined other major internet firms that have stopped considering requests by Hong Kong’s government for information on users in the wake of China’s imposition of a sweeping new security law. Microsoft and Zoom said they are pausing consideration of data requests by offi…

The list of firms worried about China’s new security law in Hong Kong has grown to include most of the biggest names in technology, which are used in everyday life. After all, the legislation means police can request insider information about anyone they suspect as seditious. What they uncover could result in a life sentence.

No more songs of glory

The Hill @thehill

Protest anthem banned in Hong Kong schools hill.cm/hzr1auJ

The reach of the new security law extends beyond the internet, as schools in Hong Kong are no longer allowed to teach the unofficial anthem of the pro-democracy movement. The song “Glory to Hong Kong” was singled out amid the removal of activists’ books from public libraries and banners with a popular protest slogan.

Apple Daily HK 蘋果日報 @appledaily_hk

A 23-year-old man became the first person to be charged under the new #NationalSecurityLaw. He is said to have ploughed his motorcycle with a flag worded "Liberate HK, Revolution of our times" into police officers in Wan Chai. bit.ly/2VHxJBQ #AppleDailyENG #HongKong

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Confessed against laws

Hong Kong Free Press HKFP @HongKongFP

UK watchdog considers sanctions against Chinese broadcaster for airing alleged forced confession hongkongfp.com/2020/07/07/uk-… #cgtn #China #UK @Ofcom

British broadcast regulator Ofcom ruled that the China Global Television Network was out of bounds when it aired forced confessions, and the state-owned English-language channel may be banned from the U.K. as a result. Similar content has been telecast in Canada, but its regulator hasn’t acted on complaints regarding these legal breaches.

BBC News (World) @BBCWorld

Professor Xu Zhangrun, who criticised China's handling of the coronavirus crisis, has been detained by authorities

bbc.inOutspoken China critic detained in BeijingProfessor Xu Zhangrun was taken from his home by authorities, friends tell the media.

The latest detainee to get international attention was taken away after publishing an essay critical of how China handled the initial outbreak of COVID-19. Law professor Xu Zhangrun had previously been critical of Xi Jinping’s leadership style—and had a bag with clothes and a toothbrush readied for this reason, while he was under house arrest.

Tensions with Australia

The Sydney Morning Herald @smh

Australians living and travelling to China may be arbitrarily detained, the Department of Foreign Affairs has warned, as the relationship between the two countries deteriorates | @ErykBagshaw

smh.com.auAustralia upgrades travel warning for ChinaAustralians living in and travelling to China have been warned they may be arbitrarily detained.

Australia’s government told its citizens they’re at risk of arbitrary detention if they travel to China, in response to Beijing accusing the country of mass espionage. (China’s embassy called the action ridiculous.) And then it took another step:

SkyNews @SkyNews

Australia has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, and offered visa holders from the territory a five-year extension with a pathway to permanent residency, in response to China's imposition of a national security law

trib.alAustralia suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty and offers visa extensionsAustralia offers the territory’s residents the chance “to start a new life elsewhere” and pitches for businesses to also relocate.

The last words, for now

Papi Jiang became the internet queen of China thanks to sarcastic comedy videos that made her the kind of star who gets an article in the New York Times. As a result, the recent birth of her son drew wider attention for the fact that the baby was given her husband’s surname, a decision which gave feminist social media fodder for debate:

Sixth Tone @SixthTone

This May, when Chinese internet star Papi Jiang revealed that her newborn child would take her husband’s surname, it ignited yet another public feud on Weibo — this time between the country’s deeply divided feminist community.

ow.lyHow Weibo Sold China on ‘Commercially Correct’ FeminismFeminists have fought hard to carve out a space on the popular microblogging platform. But now, they’re struggling to make themselves heard over a new generation of “radicals” raised on the algorithm.

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