US universities allow anonymous online discussion, warn of sensitive course materials due to Hong Kong National Security Law
Universities are supposed to be a platform for freedom of speech and academic freedom. However, some of universities in the United States(U.S.) have imposed new measures to protect students from falling into legal traps because of the Hong Kong National Security Law, including concealing students' identities, reminding students that lesson content may violate the law, or even allowing students not to participate in the class discussion should they be in fear of violating the law.
The Hong Kong National Security Law covers violation anywhere in the world. US universities are always a popular choice for students from China and Hong Kong, so the universities also have to prepare for the National Security Law before the course starts this autumn. The Wall Street Journal stated some of the top universities would remind students that the course content may be classified as "politically sensitive” by the Chinese Government. The schools started to formulate new policies to protect the identities of staff and students, to avoid legal troubles due to the law. The Chinese Politics curriculum at Princeton University requires students to use a nickname instead of a real name, protecting their identities. Among the colleges, some professors at Amherst College plan to have anonymous online communication in order to ensure students can express their opinions freely.
These decisions were made for online learning this semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for Chinese and Hong Kong international students who cannot attend lessons in the United States. Some scholars worry that the classes may be recorded, and even sent to the relevant Chinese authorities. According to data for the 2018-2019 academic year, there were 370,000 Chinese students and 7,000 Hong Kong students studying in US colleges and universities.
Article 38 gives the Hong Kong National Security Law “extraterritorial jurisdiction" covering offences committed overseas by non-Hong Kong residents. Even if they are not permanent Hong Kong residents and not inside the Hong Kong border, they are also under the regulation of this law. Offenders may be arrested once they step into Hong Kong.
#US #COVID19 #HiddenIdentity #Chinese #HK #PrincetonUniversity
Source: Stand News #Aug20
https://bit.ly/31szhTH
Universities are supposed to be a platform for freedom of speech and academic freedom. However, some of universities in the United States(U.S.) have imposed new measures to protect students from falling into legal traps because of the Hong Kong National Security Law, including concealing students' identities, reminding students that lesson content may violate the law, or even allowing students not to participate in the class discussion should they be in fear of violating the law.
The Hong Kong National Security Law covers violation anywhere in the world. US universities are always a popular choice for students from China and Hong Kong, so the universities also have to prepare for the National Security Law before the course starts this autumn. The Wall Street Journal stated some of the top universities would remind students that the course content may be classified as "politically sensitive” by the Chinese Government. The schools started to formulate new policies to protect the identities of staff and students, to avoid legal troubles due to the law. The Chinese Politics curriculum at Princeton University requires students to use a nickname instead of a real name, protecting their identities. Among the colleges, some professors at Amherst College plan to have anonymous online communication in order to ensure students can express their opinions freely.
These decisions were made for online learning this semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for Chinese and Hong Kong international students who cannot attend lessons in the United States. Some scholars worry that the classes may be recorded, and even sent to the relevant Chinese authorities. According to data for the 2018-2019 academic year, there were 370,000 Chinese students and 7,000 Hong Kong students studying in US colleges and universities.
Article 38 gives the Hong Kong National Security Law “extraterritorial jurisdiction" covering offences committed overseas by non-Hong Kong residents. Even if they are not permanent Hong Kong residents and not inside the Hong Kong border, they are also under the regulation of this law. Offenders may be arrested once they step into Hong Kong.
#US #COVID19 #HiddenIdentity #Chinese #HK #PrincetonUniversity
Source: Stand News #Aug20
https://bit.ly/31szhTH