Telegram will not disclose data to Hong Kong courts amid security law ‘terrorism’ fears
Telegram will temporarily refuse data requests from the Hong Kong authorities until an international consensus is reached in relation to the ongoing political changes in the city. It comes as Hongkongers abandon certain messaging and social media platforms following the enactment of the national security law. The new security law will allow surveillance of those deemed a “national security threat”. The definition of terrorism in the law is vague and broad, even encompassing acts of vandalism against public property.
“We understand the importance of protecting the right to privacy of our Hong Kong users under these circumstances,” Mike Ravdonikas of Telegram said. He added that the firm has not disclosed any data to the Hong Kong authorities in the past.
Telegram's privacy terms state that they will cooperate with authorities over matters related to terrorism: “If Telegram receives a court order that confirms you’re a terror suspect, we may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities.”
Source: HKFP
Further reading:
Microsoft and Zoom join Hong Kong data 'pause'
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53320715
U.S. will act to deny China access to Americans' data, says Pompeo
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-tech-pompeo/pompeo-praises-google-facebook-twitter-for-not-surrendering-user-data-to-hong-kong-government-idUSKBN2492AM
#Telegram #DataRequest #Privacy #NationalSecurityLaw #HongKong
Telegram will temporarily refuse data requests from the Hong Kong authorities until an international consensus is reached in relation to the ongoing political changes in the city. It comes as Hongkongers abandon certain messaging and social media platforms following the enactment of the national security law. The new security law will allow surveillance of those deemed a “national security threat”. The definition of terrorism in the law is vague and broad, even encompassing acts of vandalism against public property.
“We understand the importance of protecting the right to privacy of our Hong Kong users under these circumstances,” Mike Ravdonikas of Telegram said. He added that the firm has not disclosed any data to the Hong Kong authorities in the past.
Telegram's privacy terms state that they will cooperate with authorities over matters related to terrorism: “If Telegram receives a court order that confirms you’re a terror suspect, we may disclose your IP address and phone number to the relevant authorities.”
Source: HKFP
Further reading:
Microsoft and Zoom join Hong Kong data 'pause'
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53320715
U.S. will act to deny China access to Americans' data, says Pompeo
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-tech-pompeo/pompeo-praises-google-facebook-twitter-for-not-surrendering-user-data-to-hong-kong-government-idUSKBN2492AM
#Telegram #DataRequest #Privacy #NationalSecurityLaw #HongKong
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Exclusive: Telegram to temporarily refuse data requests from Hong Kong courts amid security law ‘terrorism’ fears
Messaging app Telegram has told HKFP that it will temporarily refuse data requests from the Hong Kong authorities until an international consensus emerges over recent political changes. It comes as Hongkongers abandon certain messaging and social media platforms…
#Censorship
Thai Authorities Ban Live Broadcasts, Telegram and Books
In Thailand, pro-democracy protests continue, demanding the reform of the monarchy system. The Thai authorities have banned the live broadcast by 4 online media outlets and the use of the communication application Telegram. The Police also banned three books, claiming that they incited hatred for the Thai royal family and humiliated and defamed the Thai emperor, violating national security.
One of these three books were written by historian Thongchai Winichakul, who is professor emeritus of Southeast Asian History at University of Wiscosin-Madison. Two others were written by associate professor
ณัฐพล ใจจริง.
Source: Stand News #Oct21
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3572825712803023/
#WhatisHappeninginThailand #StandWithThailand #AcademicFreedom #FreeSpeech #Telegram
Thai Authorities Ban Live Broadcasts, Telegram and Books
In Thailand, pro-democracy protests continue, demanding the reform of the monarchy system. The Thai authorities have banned the live broadcast by 4 online media outlets and the use of the communication application Telegram. The Police also banned three books, claiming that they incited hatred for the Thai royal family and humiliated and defamed the Thai emperor, violating national security.
One of these three books were written by historian Thongchai Winichakul, who is professor emeritus of Southeast Asian History at University of Wiscosin-Madison. Two others were written by associate professor
ณัฐพล ใจจริง.
Source: Stand News #Oct21
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3572825712803023/
#WhatisHappeninginThailand #StandWithThailand #AcademicFreedom #FreeSpeech #Telegram
CCP Has Infiltrated All Walks of Life in UK, with HSBC and Standard Chartered Employing Over 600 Party Members
British media raises concerns about the China Communist Party (CCP) placing their members in foreign countries. Following the concern of the US intelligence on infiltration to US Democratic Party members by a Chinese spy, the British's Mail on Sunday claimed to have obtained nearly 2 million CCP members’ details, revealing that many of them are working in British academia and also in wide variation of industries, involving 79 thousand companies and their branches, such as HSBC, vaccine manufacturer Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Some of them even work in the British consulates, raising suspicions of espionage. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) issued a short statement, describe the findings as disturbing. Some Australian parliament members have called on the government to find out whether CCP spies are infiltrating the Australian system.
A large amount of CCP member in HSBC, Standard Chartered, Pfizer and AstraZeneca
The Mail on Sunday reported that information on 1.95 million suspected CCP members, including their names, date of births, addresses and phone numbers, was circulated on Telegram. In September, a Chinese dissident forwarded this information to IPAC, which composed of cross-parties European and American parliamentarians. The Mail on Sunday recently analysed the data, finding that HSBC and Standard Chartered together employed more than 600 CCP members in the UK in 2016. It also reported that these two banks have long been criticised for their stance on dissidents issues in Hong Kong. Moreover, CCP members are also found to be employed in the defence industry including Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce. As for the pharmaceutical industry, Pfizer and AstraZeneca alone have already employed 123 CCP members.
The Mail on Sunday also discovered that many CCP members are working in foreign diplomatic organisations in China via a company called "The Shanghai Foreign Agency Service Corporation", which has a Chinese official background, and at least 249 CCP members were registered with the agency in 2016. The CCP also infiltrated into academics, that according to the British policy, overseas students not from the EU or the Five Eyes network are required to have an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate to enter. But it was found that some of the CCP members have been senior researchers in the UK top universities, participating in sensitive subject such as aerospace engineering.
#China #CCP #Infiltration #IPAC #MailOnSunday #Telegram #CCPmember #HSBC #StandardChartered #Pfizer #AstraZeneca #UK #Britain #ShanghaiForeignAgencyServiceCorporation #Spies
Source: Apple Daily #Dec13
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201213/TZECVNNCEVCIHGYN7RCR5V5CRY/
British media raises concerns about the China Communist Party (CCP) placing their members in foreign countries. Following the concern of the US intelligence on infiltration to US Democratic Party members by a Chinese spy, the British's Mail on Sunday claimed to have obtained nearly 2 million CCP members’ details, revealing that many of them are working in British academia and also in wide variation of industries, involving 79 thousand companies and their branches, such as HSBC, vaccine manufacturer Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Some of them even work in the British consulates, raising suspicions of espionage. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) issued a short statement, describe the findings as disturbing. Some Australian parliament members have called on the government to find out whether CCP spies are infiltrating the Australian system.
A large amount of CCP member in HSBC, Standard Chartered, Pfizer and AstraZeneca
The Mail on Sunday reported that information on 1.95 million suspected CCP members, including their names, date of births, addresses and phone numbers, was circulated on Telegram. In September, a Chinese dissident forwarded this information to IPAC, which composed of cross-parties European and American parliamentarians. The Mail on Sunday recently analysed the data, finding that HSBC and Standard Chartered together employed more than 600 CCP members in the UK in 2016. It also reported that these two banks have long been criticised for their stance on dissidents issues in Hong Kong. Moreover, CCP members are also found to be employed in the defence industry including Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce. As for the pharmaceutical industry, Pfizer and AstraZeneca alone have already employed 123 CCP members.
The Mail on Sunday also discovered that many CCP members are working in foreign diplomatic organisations in China via a company called "The Shanghai Foreign Agency Service Corporation", which has a Chinese official background, and at least 249 CCP members were registered with the agency in 2016. The CCP also infiltrated into academics, that according to the British policy, overseas students not from the EU or the Five Eyes network are required to have an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate to enter. But it was found that some of the CCP members have been senior researchers in the UK top universities, participating in sensitive subject such as aerospace engineering.
#China #CCP #Infiltration #IPAC #MailOnSunday #Telegram #CCPmember #HSBC #StandardChartered #Pfizer #AstraZeneca #UK #Britain #ShanghaiForeignAgencyServiceCorporation #Spies
Source: Apple Daily #Dec13
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201213/TZECVNNCEVCIHGYN7RCR5V5CRY/
A journalist in exile suspected of being kidnapped back to Iran across the border and being executed
Iran government sentenced the 47-year-old journalist Ruhollah Zam, who was once in exile to France, to death because of "corruption" on Saturday (12th December). The journalist was accused of cooperating with foreign intelligence departments, sharing protest information as well as making teachings on gasoline bombs on his Telegram channel. The French government, human rights organisations, Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists all condemned the execution, describing it as “a fatal blow to Iran’s freedom of speech”.
Zam fled to Paris after being accused of cooperating with foreign intelligence departments in 2009. He subsequently started operating website “AmadNews” and his telegram channel, having over 1 million followers. He shared Iran protest information and scandals of Iran officials on his channel in 2017, and tutorials for making gasoline bomb. Telegram has once blocked his channel due to complaints from the Iranian government.
#Iran #RuhollahZam #Journalist #Paris #FreedomofSpeech #Iranprotests #Telegram #InExile #AmadNews
Source: Stand News #Dec13
https://bit.ly/3orlO6I
Iran government sentenced the 47-year-old journalist Ruhollah Zam, who was once in exile to France, to death because of "corruption" on Saturday (12th December). The journalist was accused of cooperating with foreign intelligence departments, sharing protest information as well as making teachings on gasoline bombs on his Telegram channel. The French government, human rights organisations, Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists all condemned the execution, describing it as “a fatal blow to Iran’s freedom of speech”.
Zam fled to Paris after being accused of cooperating with foreign intelligence departments in 2009. He subsequently started operating website “AmadNews” and his telegram channel, having over 1 million followers. He shared Iran protest information and scandals of Iran officials on his channel in 2017, and tutorials for making gasoline bomb. Telegram has once blocked his channel due to complaints from the Iranian government.
#Iran #RuhollahZam #Journalist #Paris #FreedomofSpeech #Iranprotests #Telegram #InExile #AmadNews
Source: Stand News #Dec13
https://bit.ly/3orlO6I
The first guilty plea from a TG channel admin, accusing of conspiracy to incite arson and spreading hate speech, is sentenced for 3 years.
#Telegram #HateSpeech #GoHKgraphics
#Telegram #HateSpeech #GoHKgraphics
#Censorship
Hong Kong government considers blocking social platform Telegram
Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data is considering invoking regulations to restrict access to #Telegram, a popular social media platform it found to be "rampant" with doxxing.
Such an action, if taken, is likely to stoke fears that the #NationalSecurityLaw will further encroach on civil liberties, as part of a continuing effort by Beijing to exert its influence over the city.
It’s unclear how the privacy watchdog intends to carry out such an action. The authorities may choose to fully block public access, or remove the app from the city’s stores.
Francis Fong Po-kiu, honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, noted that it is technically difficult to ban public access of an internet platform.
Fong cited Russia's attempt to sanction Telegram in 2018 by blocking its IP addresses, which failed because IP addresses of such platforms are constantly changing. The action caused collateral damage, however, accidentally taking down unrelated websites and causing disruptions. Russia ultimately gave up and unblocked the app in 2020.
Telegram channels are still widely used in Hong Kong to help residents stay up-to-date on court cases involving pro-democracy activists, a means for 2019 anti-government protest supporters to stay connected amid a crackdown on dissent by the authorities.
Sources: Headline Daily
https://tinyurl.com/y69mnux4
Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-17/hong-kong-considers-blocking-telegram-local-paper-says
#May19 #GreatFirewall #Suppression
Hong Kong government considers blocking social platform Telegram
Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data is considering invoking regulations to restrict access to #Telegram, a popular social media platform it found to be "rampant" with doxxing.
Such an action, if taken, is likely to stoke fears that the #NationalSecurityLaw will further encroach on civil liberties, as part of a continuing effort by Beijing to exert its influence over the city.
It’s unclear how the privacy watchdog intends to carry out such an action. The authorities may choose to fully block public access, or remove the app from the city’s stores.
Francis Fong Po-kiu, honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, noted that it is technically difficult to ban public access of an internet platform.
Fong cited Russia's attempt to sanction Telegram in 2018 by blocking its IP addresses, which failed because IP addresses of such platforms are constantly changing. The action caused collateral damage, however, accidentally taking down unrelated websites and causing disruptions. Russia ultimately gave up and unblocked the app in 2020.
Telegram channels are still widely used in Hong Kong to help residents stay up-to-date on court cases involving pro-democracy activists, a means for 2019 anti-government protest supporters to stay connected amid a crackdown on dissent by the authorities.
Sources: Headline Daily
https://tinyurl.com/y69mnux4
Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-17/hong-kong-considers-blocking-telegram-local-paper-says
#May19 #GreatFirewall #Suppression
頭條日報 Headline Daily
群組每周發200起底訊息 私隱署研「封鎖」Telegram
政府打擊起底行為，將之刑事化，新條例去年十月生效後，相關行為仍舊猖獗。個人資料私隱專員鍾麗玲昨日向立法會表示，去年私隱公署共發現八百...