Twenty-four global human rights groups recently wrote a letter to the CEOs of six online platforms, including Apple, Google, and Meta, urging them to oppose the Hong Kong government’s request for a ban on the protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” (hereafter referred to as “Glory”), stating that the ban will have a “disastrous impact” on freedom of expression and access to information in Hong Kong and even globally. Internet companies must unite against information censorship in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong government is seeking a ban on the song “Glory,” prohibiting any form of broadcasting, performance, or distribution of the song through channels such as the Internet. They also provided a document listing 32 videos of “Glory” on YouTube. Concerns have been raised that once the ban is implemented, the song may disappear from the Internet entirely. Currently, several of the videos mentioned in the Department of Justice’s form cannot be viewed or have been taken down by the uploaders.
Most of the 24 overseas human rights groups that initiated the joint letter are organizations concerned with human rights in Hong Kong or organizations of overseas Hongkongers, such as Human Rights Watch, Hong Kong Watch, Hong Kong Democracy Council, and We The Hongkongers; there is also Electronic Frontier Foundation which is concerned with privacy rights in electronic technology, freedom of speech and innovation, and Campaign for Uyghurs, which is concerned with Uyghur human rights.
The joint letter was sent to the CEOs of six multinational internet technology giants, namely Spotify, Apple, Alphabet, Google, Twitter, and Meta Platforms (operator of Facebook), urging them to oppose the ban on “Glory.” The ban affects Hong Kong and will have a “disastrous impact” on global freedom of expression and information access.
However, these definitions are too broad and vague. Under the National Security Law, the crime of secession does not require the use of force or coercion, and peaceful actions such as speech or songs can be criminalized; the provisions on incitement are also broad, with a low threshold for criminalization. Since 2020, the Hong Kong government has used these laws to prosecute dissidents and violate Hong Kong people’s freedom of expression.
The joint groups added that this injunction “would be used to censor ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ globally, building on the growing tendency of Hong Kong authorities to apply abusive laws for actions committed outside Hong Kong’s territory.”
The joint letter cited the example of Meta being forced to remove content 50 times between July 2020 and June 2022, for which the Hong Kong government was responsible. In addition, a 23-year-old Hong Kong woman was charged with “sedition” upon her return to Hong Kong after posting comments about “Hong Kong independence” on Facebook while studying in Japan.
The letter also mentions that Google has previously fought injunctions in Canadian and American courts and hopes that tech companies will respond similarly.
