#Facebook: #ChineseHackers Attempt to Breach #Uyghurs Communication Devices for #Surveillance
Facebook reported that groups of Chinese hackers tried to set up fake accounts on Facebook in order to get in contact with Uyghurs overseas. After gaining their trust, they send their victims malicious links disguised as Uyghur news sites or online stores, in an attempt to install spyware on their phones for surveillance.
The report on the hacking activities was published on March 24, 2021 in which Facebook did not directly link the incident to the Chinese government, but said that the activity "had the hallmarks of a well-resourced and persistent operation". The hacking groups involved, known in the cybersecurity industry as Earth Empusa and Evil Eye, have also been involved in other surveillance activities in the past.
The hackers mainly target Uyghur human rights activists, journalists, and dissidents from Xinjiang. Most of them currently live in Turkey, Kazakhstan, the United States, Syria, Australia and Canada.
Source: Stand News #Mar25
https://www.thestandnews.com/international/facebook-中國駭客試圖入侵維吾爾族通訊工具進行監視/
#Uyghurs #Cybersecurity #ChineseHackers #MassSurveillance #BigData
Facebook reported that groups of Chinese hackers tried to set up fake accounts on Facebook in order to get in contact with Uyghurs overseas. After gaining their trust, they send their victims malicious links disguised as Uyghur news sites or online stores, in an attempt to install spyware on their phones for surveillance.
The report on the hacking activities was published on March 24, 2021 in which Facebook did not directly link the incident to the Chinese government, but said that the activity "had the hallmarks of a well-resourced and persistent operation". The hacking groups involved, known in the cybersecurity industry as Earth Empusa and Evil Eye, have also been involved in other surveillance activities in the past.
The hackers mainly target Uyghur human rights activists, journalists, and dissidents from Xinjiang. Most of them currently live in Turkey, Kazakhstan, the United States, Syria, Australia and Canada.
Source: Stand News #Mar25
https://www.thestandnews.com/international/facebook-中國駭客試圖入侵維吾爾族通訊工具進行監視/
#Uyghurs #Cybersecurity #ChineseHackers #MassSurveillance #BigData
#MassSurveillance #BigData
Hong Kong Government Installs 1,200 Bluetooth Detectors on Major Roads
Source: MingPao #March25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29298
Hong Kong Government Installs 1,200 Bluetooth Detectors on Major Roads
Source: MingPao #March25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29298
#MassSurveillance #BigData
Hong Kong Government Installs 1,200 Bluetooth Detectors on Major Roads
The Transport Department in Hong Kong has completed the installation of 1,200 sets of traffic detectors on major roads at the end of 2020, despite public concerns about the privacy of the "smart lampposts".
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (#OGCIO) in Hong Kong did remove the cameras and Bluetooth traffic detectors from the lampposts in May 2020. However, other departments continued to install Bluetooth detectors on other lampposts.
These detectors include video detectors, Bluetooth detectors and automatic license plate recognition detectors. The Bluetooth detectors, which can detect drivers and passengers' Bluetooth devices such as personal phones, headphones and smartwatches.
The IT industry stated that the Department did not consult the industry before installation, nor find the best technical solution to protect citizen’s privacy.
The Transport Department claimed that it has done a privacy risk assessment, and the collected Bluetooth data will be deleted.
Leo To, Executive Committee of the HK Wireless Technology Industry Association believes that there are many alternative solutions to detect vehicle speed that doesn’t require a collection of personal device data, such as the most traditional radar, the existing lens, the latest optical radar.
He said that he cannot understand why the Department chose to use a technology that “can possibly turn surveillance into monitoring".
In Mid-2019, the Hong Kong Government launched 50 smart lampposts in the Kwun Tong/Kai Tak Development Area which raised privacy concerns and were partially destroyed during the anti-extradition movement.
The government subsequently set up a technical advisory committee to review the plan, the committee's report recommended the use of thermal detectors, optical radar (#LiDAR) instead of cameras, and "more privacy-friendly" technology instead of Bluetooth detectors to detect vehicle speed and identify different types of vehicles. If the results are satisfactory, it is expected to be installed in the existing smart lampposts for field testing in the middle of this year.
Francis Fong Po-Kiu, A member of the Multi-functional Smart Lampposts Technical Advisory Ad Hoc Committee, requests the Department to provide relevant information to the public, including the exact location of all detectors, the information collected, the technology used, the privacy report results, and whether it will be used for law enforcement purposes.
Source: MingPao #March25
#Privacy #SmartLamppost #BigBrother
http://news.mingpao.com/pns2103251616610400825
http://news.mingpao.com/pns2103251616610404390
Hong Kong Government Installs 1,200 Bluetooth Detectors on Major Roads
The Transport Department in Hong Kong has completed the installation of 1,200 sets of traffic detectors on major roads at the end of 2020, despite public concerns about the privacy of the "smart lampposts".
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (#OGCIO) in Hong Kong did remove the cameras and Bluetooth traffic detectors from the lampposts in May 2020. However, other departments continued to install Bluetooth detectors on other lampposts.
These detectors include video detectors, Bluetooth detectors and automatic license plate recognition detectors. The Bluetooth detectors, which can detect drivers and passengers' Bluetooth devices such as personal phones, headphones and smartwatches.
The IT industry stated that the Department did not consult the industry before installation, nor find the best technical solution to protect citizen’s privacy.
The Transport Department claimed that it has done a privacy risk assessment, and the collected Bluetooth data will be deleted.
Leo To, Executive Committee of the HK Wireless Technology Industry Association believes that there are many alternative solutions to detect vehicle speed that doesn’t require a collection of personal device data, such as the most traditional radar, the existing lens, the latest optical radar.
He said that he cannot understand why the Department chose to use a technology that “can possibly turn surveillance into monitoring".
In Mid-2019, the Hong Kong Government launched 50 smart lampposts in the Kwun Tong/Kai Tak Development Area which raised privacy concerns and were partially destroyed during the anti-extradition movement.
The government subsequently set up a technical advisory committee to review the plan, the committee's report recommended the use of thermal detectors, optical radar (#LiDAR) instead of cameras, and "more privacy-friendly" technology instead of Bluetooth detectors to detect vehicle speed and identify different types of vehicles. If the results are satisfactory, it is expected to be installed in the existing smart lampposts for field testing in the middle of this year.
Francis Fong Po-Kiu, A member of the Multi-functional Smart Lampposts Technical Advisory Ad Hoc Committee, requests the Department to provide relevant information to the public, including the exact location of all detectors, the information collected, the technology used, the privacy report results, and whether it will be used for law enforcement purposes.
Source: MingPao #March25
#Privacy #SmartLamppost #BigBrother
http://news.mingpao.com/pns2103251616610400825
http://news.mingpao.com/pns2103251616610404390
明報新聞網 - 每日明報 daily news
探測器這邊從智慧燈柱拆除 那邊在幹道裝設 路過開藍牙 燈柱自動蒐資料 - 20210325 - 要聞
【明報專訊】因應公眾對「智慧燈柱」的私隱疑慮,政府資訊科技總監辦公室(資科辦)去年5月移除其中的鏡頭及藍牙交通探測器,但其他部門卻在其他燈柱繼續安裝,例如運輸署去年底完成在主要幹道裝設1200組交通探測器,包括視像探測器、藍牙探測器及車牌自動識別探測器。其中最具爭議的藍牙探測器,可偵測司機、乘客的藍牙裝置,包括個人電話、耳機、智能手表等。有IT業界認為,署方安裝前未有諮詢業界,未有物色最能避免蒐集個人裝置資料的技術方案,令社會產生疑慮。運輸署表示已做私隱風險評估,蒐集的藍牙資料會刪除。
#MassSurveillance #Privacy
Media in the Netherlands: #Huawei Might Have Sent Users' Data to China
According to the media outlet de Volkskrant in the Netherlands, the local telecommunication company Telfort was aware sincec 2011 that the Chinese phone manufacturer Huawei could access the data of over millions of users without a trace.
This is revealed in an internal report of KPN, the parent company of Telport; however, the company has never informed relevant department such as the Data Protection Authority (#DPA) and their customers.
Scholars pointed out the possibilty of having the data channeled to China, although Huawei denied that data has been shared.
Source: Stand News #Mar31
https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E5%A4%96%E5%AA%92-%E8%8F%AF%E7%82%BA%E6%9B%BE%E5%8F%AF%E4%B8%8D%E7%95%99%E7%97%95%E8%B7%A1%E5%AD%98%E5%8F%96%E8%8D%B7%E8%98%AD%E9%9B%BB%E8%A8%8A%E5%95%86%E9%81%8E%E7%99%BE%E8%90%AC%E7%94%A8%E6%88%B6%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/
#Telport #KPN #Telecommunication #BigData #BigBrother
Media in the Netherlands: #Huawei Might Have Sent Users' Data to China
According to the media outlet de Volkskrant in the Netherlands, the local telecommunication company Telfort was aware sincec 2011 that the Chinese phone manufacturer Huawei could access the data of over millions of users without a trace.
This is revealed in an internal report of KPN, the parent company of Telport; however, the company has never informed relevant department such as the Data Protection Authority (#DPA) and their customers.
Scholars pointed out the possibilty of having the data channeled to China, although Huawei denied that data has been shared.
Source: Stand News #Mar31
https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E5%A4%96%E5%AA%92-%E8%8F%AF%E7%82%BA%E6%9B%BE%E5%8F%AF%E4%B8%8D%E7%95%99%E7%97%95%E8%B7%A1%E5%AD%98%E5%8F%96%E8%8D%B7%E8%98%AD%E9%9B%BB%E8%A8%8A%E5%95%86%E9%81%8E%E7%99%BE%E8%90%AC%E7%94%A8%E6%88%B6%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/
#Telport #KPN #Telecommunication #BigData #BigBrother
#MassSurveillance
Watching You: Face-Recognition Forcibly Installed in Housing Estates in Hong Kong
It is found that some security contractors of a Hong Kong’s housing estate have forcibly added face recognition technology to their security systems, causing great discontent among residents.
For instance, the installations in Fullview Garden in Siu Sai Wan are provided by #Hikivision, a state-owned Chinese enterprise which has high-resolution cameras with up to a 99% accuracy for recognition.
Source: Unwire HK #May7
https://unwire.hk/2021/05/07/cnsordoor/fun-tech/
#MassSurveillance #BigBrother #FacialRecognition
#ChineseEnterprise
Watching You: Face-Recognition Forcibly Installed in Housing Estates in Hong Kong
It is found that some security contractors of a Hong Kong’s housing estate have forcibly added face recognition technology to their security systems, causing great discontent among residents.
For instance, the installations in Fullview Garden in Siu Sai Wan are provided by #Hikivision, a state-owned Chinese enterprise which has high-resolution cameras with up to a 99% accuracy for recognition.
Source: Unwire HK #May7
https://unwire.hk/2021/05/07/cnsordoor/fun-tech/
#MassSurveillance #BigBrother #FacialRecognition
#ChineseEnterprise
#HumanitarianCrisis #Genocide
#AmnestyInternational: #China has "created a dystopian hellscape on a staggering scale" in #Xinjiang
//“The Chinese authorities have created a dystopian hellscape on a staggering scale in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities face crimes against humanity and other serious human rights violations that threaten to erase their religious and cultural identities."
“It should shock the conscience of humanity that massive numbers of people have been subjected to brainwashing, torture and other degrading treatment in internment camps, while millions more live in fear amid a vast surveillance apparatus.”
From the moment they entered the prison-like internment camps, detainees’ lives were extraordinarily regimented. They had no privacy or autonomy, and they faced harsh punishments – sometimes collectively with their cellmates – for trivial disobedience. Internees were forbidden to speak freely to each other, and they were severely punished when they responded to prison guards or other officials in their native tongues instead of Mandarin. Every activity in the detainees’ daily routine was pre-ordained and their behaviour was constantly monitored and evaluated....
Every former detainee Amnesty International interviewed suffered torture or other ill-treatment.
This included the cumulative psychological effect of their daily dehumanization, as well as physical torture in the form of beatings, electric shocks, solitary confinement, deprivation of food, water and sleep, exposure to extreme cold, and the abusive use of restraints, including torture tools like tiger chairs. Some reported being restrained in a tiger chair for 24 hours or more...
The Chinese government has gone to extraordinary lengths to cover up its violations of international human rights law in Xinjiang. Authorities threaten, detain and mistreat anyone who speaks out...//
Read full article:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/06/china-draconian-repression-of-muslims-in-xinjiang-amounts-to-crimes-against-humanity/
Source: Amnesty International #Jun10
Image by Molly Crabapple
#Uyghurs #ConcentrationCamp #CCP #AgainstHumanity #Torture #Rape #MassSurveillance
#AmnestyInternational: #China has "created a dystopian hellscape on a staggering scale" in #Xinjiang
//“The Chinese authorities have created a dystopian hellscape on a staggering scale in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities face crimes against humanity and other serious human rights violations that threaten to erase their religious and cultural identities."
“It should shock the conscience of humanity that massive numbers of people have been subjected to brainwashing, torture and other degrading treatment in internment camps, while millions more live in fear amid a vast surveillance apparatus.”
From the moment they entered the prison-like internment camps, detainees’ lives were extraordinarily regimented. They had no privacy or autonomy, and they faced harsh punishments – sometimes collectively with their cellmates – for trivial disobedience. Internees were forbidden to speak freely to each other, and they were severely punished when they responded to prison guards or other officials in their native tongues instead of Mandarin. Every activity in the detainees’ daily routine was pre-ordained and their behaviour was constantly monitored and evaluated....
Every former detainee Amnesty International interviewed suffered torture or other ill-treatment.
This included the cumulative psychological effect of their daily dehumanization, as well as physical torture in the form of beatings, electric shocks, solitary confinement, deprivation of food, water and sleep, exposure to extreme cold, and the abusive use of restraints, including torture tools like tiger chairs. Some reported being restrained in a tiger chair for 24 hours or more...
The Chinese government has gone to extraordinary lengths to cover up its violations of international human rights law in Xinjiang. Authorities threaten, detain and mistreat anyone who speaks out...//
Read full article:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/06/china-draconian-repression-of-muslims-in-xinjiang-amounts-to-crimes-against-humanity/
Source: Amnesty International #Jun10
Image by Molly Crabapple
#Uyghurs #ConcentrationCamp #CCP #AgainstHumanity #Torture #Rape #MassSurveillance
Amnesty International
China: Draconian repression of Muslims in Xinjiang amounts to crimes against humanity
Hundreds of thousands of Muslim minority men and women subjected to mass internment and torture Millions of Muslims subjected to systematized mass surveillance Muslim ethnic groups forced to abandon their religious traditions, cultural practices and local…
#FailedState #PoliceState
#Facebook, #Twitter, #Google Threaten to Quit Hong Kong Over Proposed Data Laws
//Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google have privately warned the Hong Kong government that they could stop offering their services in the city if authorities proceed with planned changes to data-protection laws that could make them liable for the malicious sharing of individuals’ information online.
A letter sent by an industry group that includes the internet firms said companies are concerned that the planned rules to address doxing could put their staff at risk of criminal investigations or prosecutions related to what the firms’ users post online. Doxing refers to the practice of putting people’s personal information online so they can be harassed by others.
Hong Kong’s Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau in May proposed amendments to the city’s data-protection laws that it said were needed to combat doxing, a practice that was prevalent during 2019 protests in the city. The proposals call for punishments of up to 1 million Hong Kong dollars, the equivalent of about $128,800, and up to five years’ imprisonment.
“The only way to avoid these sanctions for technology companies would be to refrain from investing and offering the services in Hong Kong,” said the previously unreported June 25 letter from the Singapore-based Asia Internet Coalition, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.//
Read more:
www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-twitter-google-warn-planned-hong-kong-tech-law-could-drive-them-out-11625483036
Source: Wall Street Journal #Jul5
Image: Stand News
https://thestandnews.page.link/URLxJrLrxBrhxtdD6
#MassSurveillance #InformationFlow #Communication #Doxing
#Facebook, #Twitter, #Google Threaten to Quit Hong Kong Over Proposed Data Laws
//Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google have privately warned the Hong Kong government that they could stop offering their services in the city if authorities proceed with planned changes to data-protection laws that could make them liable for the malicious sharing of individuals’ information online.
A letter sent by an industry group that includes the internet firms said companies are concerned that the planned rules to address doxing could put their staff at risk of criminal investigations or prosecutions related to what the firms’ users post online. Doxing refers to the practice of putting people’s personal information online so they can be harassed by others.
Hong Kong’s Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau in May proposed amendments to the city’s data-protection laws that it said were needed to combat doxing, a practice that was prevalent during 2019 protests in the city. The proposals call for punishments of up to 1 million Hong Kong dollars, the equivalent of about $128,800, and up to five years’ imprisonment.
“The only way to avoid these sanctions for technology companies would be to refrain from investing and offering the services in Hong Kong,” said the previously unreported June 25 letter from the Singapore-based Asia Internet Coalition, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.//
Read more:
www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-twitter-google-warn-planned-hong-kong-tech-law-could-drive-them-out-11625483036
Source: Wall Street Journal #Jul5
Image: Stand News
https://thestandnews.page.link/URLxJrLrxBrhxtdD6
#MassSurveillance #InformationFlow #Communication #Doxing
WSJ
WSJ News Exclusive | Facebook, Twitter, Google Threaten to Quit Hong Kong Over Proposed Data Laws
A letter sent by an industry group that includes Facebook, Twitter and Google said the companies are concerned that planned rules to address doxing could put their staff at risk of criminal investigation or prosecution.
#BigData #MassSurveillance
China’s Gene Company Shares Genetic Data Obtained Around the World with Military
Source: Stand News; #Jul8
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30523
China’s Gene Company Shares Genetic Data Obtained Around the World with Military
Source: Stand News; #Jul8
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30523
#BigData #MassSurveillance
China’s Gene Company Shares Genetic Data Obtained Around the World with Military
A Reuters’ investigative report found that the China-based gene company #BGI group has been collecting #GeneticData from over 8 million pregnant women for sweeping research on the traits of populations via selling prenatal tests around the world.
The research was said to be developed in collaboration with the Chinese military.
These genetic data were amassed without names, but contsined infornation of nationality, height, and weight. Such prenatal tests were also available in Hong Kong.
BGI is one of the Hong Kong Government appointed institutions for COVID-19 tests in Hong Kong. In recent years, BGI has been trying to mark its reputation by selling and donating millions of COVID-19 detection tools around the world.The U.S. security services warned that it is a well-established means for the company to collect worldwide genetic data.
Reuters report pointed out that BGI’s prenatal test, No Invasive prenatal gene testing for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities (NIFTY) is a source of genetic data for the company. These data were collected in 52 countries around the world among 8 million pregnant women.
Source: Stand News; #Jul8
https://www.thestandnews.com/society/%E8%B7%AF%E9%80%8F%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E8%8F%AF%E5%A4%A7%E5%9F%BA%E5%9B%A0%E5%85%A8%E7%90%83%E6%94%B6%E9%80%BE-800-%E8%90%AC%E5%A5%B3%E6%80%A7%E6%95%B8%E6%93%9A-%E8%88%87%E8%A7%A3%E6%94%BE%E8%BB%8D%E5%85%B1%E4%BA%AB%E5%81%9A%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6
China’s Gene Company Shares Genetic Data Obtained Around the World with Military
A Reuters’ investigative report found that the China-based gene company #BGI group has been collecting #GeneticData from over 8 million pregnant women for sweeping research on the traits of populations via selling prenatal tests around the world.
The research was said to be developed in collaboration with the Chinese military.
These genetic data were amassed without names, but contsined infornation of nationality, height, and weight. Such prenatal tests were also available in Hong Kong.
BGI is one of the Hong Kong Government appointed institutions for COVID-19 tests in Hong Kong. In recent years, BGI has been trying to mark its reputation by selling and donating millions of COVID-19 detection tools around the world.The U.S. security services warned that it is a well-established means for the company to collect worldwide genetic data.
Reuters report pointed out that BGI’s prenatal test, No Invasive prenatal gene testing for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities (NIFTY) is a source of genetic data for the company. These data were collected in 52 countries around the world among 8 million pregnant women.
Source: Stand News; #Jul8
https://www.thestandnews.com/society/%E8%B7%AF%E9%80%8F%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E8%8F%AF%E5%A4%A7%E5%9F%BA%E5%9B%A0%E5%85%A8%E7%90%83%E6%94%B6%E9%80%BE-800-%E8%90%AC%E5%A5%B3%E6%80%A7%E6%95%B8%E6%93%9A-%E8%88%87%E8%A7%A3%E6%94%BE%E8%BB%8D%E5%85%B1%E4%BA%AB%E5%81%9A%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6
立場新聞 Stand News
路透﹕中國華大基因全球收逾 800 萬女性數據 與解放軍共享做研究 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
《路透社》發表調查報道,北京華大基因在全球利用其產前檢測服務,收集超過 800 萬孕婦基因,並將所得成果與中國...
#MassSurveillance
All Government buildings Will Require LeaveHomeSafe Starting November
#LeaveHomeSafe #COVID19 #Surveillance #HomelessPeople #StreetSleepers
Source: Stand News #Oct21
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
All Government buildings Will Require LeaveHomeSafe Starting November
#LeaveHomeSafe #COVID19 #Surveillance #HomelessPeople #StreetSleepers
Source: Stand News #Oct21
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
#MassSurveillance
All Government buildings Will Require LeaveHomeSafe Starting November
The Hong Kong government announced yesterday that all citizens are required to record their visit with LeaveHomeSafe before entering government buildings and offices, such as public libraries, sports centres, museums, etc. It will be strictly enforced starting from November.
The Hospital Authority (HA) and the Police Force said that the new rule covers the HA Headquarters, public hospital administrative buildings, police headquarters, and police stations.
The Society for Community Organization said that many homeless people rely on the drinking water and showering facilities in government sports halls, and sometimes need to visit government offices for various procedures. However, most of them do not have a smartphone or even a mobile phone. As a result, many had expressed anxiety about making LeaveHomeSafe mandatory for these facilities.
When LeaveHomeSafe was first released in November last year, government officials said using it would be voluntary, and only a convenience for one's own visits electronically. However, days afterwards, officials stated on a radio programme that they would not rule out making it compulsory.
Updates: The government has announced that cemeteries, public toilets, public bathhouse and rubbish collection points are exempted.
Editor's note: LeaveHomeSafe is a digital contact tracing app launched by the Hong Kong Government in response to the pandemic, for recording visit history (eg. date, time, and venue). Unlike many countries who made their app open-source and welcomed public scrutiny, Hong Kong's app is proprietary, and its privacy statement acknowledges that user records would be uploaded and stored by the government.
#LeaveHomeSafe #COVID19 #Surveillance #HomelessPeople #StreetSleepers #BigData #Privacy
Source: Stand News #Oct21
https://bit.ly/3ErUfCS
see also: HK Gov't's COVID-tracing App Keeps Visit Records For Up to 7 Years and Shares Data with Enforcement Personnel
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29224
All Government buildings Will Require LeaveHomeSafe Starting November
The Hong Kong government announced yesterday that all citizens are required to record their visit with LeaveHomeSafe before entering government buildings and offices, such as public libraries, sports centres, museums, etc. It will be strictly enforced starting from November.
The Hospital Authority (HA) and the Police Force said that the new rule covers the HA Headquarters, public hospital administrative buildings, police headquarters, and police stations.
The Society for Community Organization said that many homeless people rely on the drinking water and showering facilities in government sports halls, and sometimes need to visit government offices for various procedures. However, most of them do not have a smartphone or even a mobile phone. As a result, many had expressed anxiety about making LeaveHomeSafe mandatory for these facilities.
When LeaveHomeSafe was first released in November last year, government officials said using it would be voluntary, and only a convenience for one's own visits electronically. However, days afterwards, officials stated on a radio programme that they would not rule out making it compulsory.
Updates: The government has announced that cemeteries, public toilets, public bathhouse and rubbish collection points are exempted.
Editor's note: LeaveHomeSafe is a digital contact tracing app launched by the Hong Kong Government in response to the pandemic, for recording visit history (eg. date, time, and venue). Unlike many countries who made their app open-source and welcomed public scrutiny, Hong Kong's app is proprietary, and its privacy statement acknowledges that user records would be uploaded and stored by the government.
#LeaveHomeSafe #COVID19 #Surveillance #HomelessPeople #StreetSleepers #BigData #Privacy
Source: Stand News #Oct21
https://bit.ly/3ErUfCS
see also: HK Gov't's COVID-tracing App Keeps Visit Records For Up to 7 Years and Shares Data with Enforcement Personnel
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29224