Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Facebook, Google ‘could stop offering services’ in Hong Kong over doxxing law

Facebook, Google ‘could stop offering services’ in Hong Kong over doxxing law

The Singapore-based Asia Internet Coalition said the proposed legislation was too vague and broad.

A regional internet industry group with Facebook, Google, Twitter and Yahoo among its members has warned the tech giants could stop offering services in Hong Kong if a proposed anti-doxxing law goes ahead in the form proposed.

The Singapore-based Asia Internet Coalition said the proposed legislation was too vague and broad, stressing it was also unfair to hold local staff responsible if their overseas-based companies did not remove content on their platforms as authorities required.

The government is amending Hong Kong’s privacy laws to criminalise the malicious spreading of personal details, or doxxing. The move aims to rein in the kind of cyber harassment that became common during the 2019 anti-government protests, when police officers and their family members and supporters were commonly targeted.

Ada Chung is Hong Kong’s privacy commissioner.


The coalition said it appreciated the importance of privacy but “any anti-doxxing legislation, which can have the effect of curtailing free expression, must be built on principles of necessity and proportionality”.

In a letter to privacy commissioner Ada Chung Lai-ling, dated June 25, the coalition said the proposed definition of doxxing acts created “problematic ambiguity”. It stressed that there was no universally accepted definition for doxxing.

The government is still working out the details of the amendments.

But in general, according to papers presented to the legislature, those engaged in doxxing with the intent to threaten, intimate, harass or cause psychological harm to others could face five years in jail and a maximum fine of HK$1 million (US$129,000).

The privacy commissioner would also be given investigatory powers to compel people to help with inquiries and request the removal of offending content.

But the coalition raised concerns that local staff of overseas internet companies could face criminal investigation and prosecution, saying the changes were a “completely disproportionate and unnecessary response to doxxing”.

“The local staff of overseas platforms in Hong Kong are not responsible for the operations of the platforms; neither do they … have access right or control to administer the online platform contents,” the coalition said.

In its letter, a copy of which was also sent to constitutional affairs chief Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, the coalition said: “Introducing severe sanctions and especially personal liability in relation to assessing requests for taking down content has the consequence of encouraging online platforms to conduct little to no review of requests and over-block content, which will likely result in grave impact on due process and risks for freedom of expression and communication.

“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 a statement on Monday, a spokesman for Chung’s office confirmed it had received the letter. The office also said the proposed bill would “not have any bearing on free speech”.

“The [commissioner] reiterates that the amendments only concern unlawful doxxing acts and the [commissioner’s] related enforcement powers,” it said.

“The [commissioner] strongly rebuts any suggestion that the amendments may in any way affect foreign investment in Hong Kong”

Legislator Elizabeth Quat, meanwhile, said the coalition had jumped to conclusions too soon.

“The bill is not yet out, not to mention any discussions at a bills committee. Only some general ideas of the government are available now,” she said, urging people to wait for details of the amendments before commenting.

The government has said it aims to submit a bill to the Legislative Council as early as this month.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
×