A court order requires a Google subsidiary to restrict local access to 32 videos of the song “Glory to Hong Kong,” deemed to be prohibited content
YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet, announced on Tuesday its decision to adhere to a court ruling by blocking access to 32 video links considered prohibited content within Hong Kong. Critics view this move as a setback for freedoms in the financial hub, particularly amidst increased security measures. This decision follows a government request, granted by Hong Kong’s court of appeal, to ban a protest anthem called “Glory to Hong Kong.” The judges cautioned that dissenters aiming to incite secession could potentially exploit the song as a weapon against the state.
A representative from YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet based in Mountain View, California, stated that the geoblocking of videos would be implemented immediately for viewers in Hong Kong. YouTube further explained that over time, the links to these videos would cease to appear on Google Search in Hong Kong as the company’s systems implement the changes. When attempting to access the song on YouTube from Hong Kong, a message appeared stating: “This content is not available on this country domain due to a court order.”
A spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry stated that halting the dissemination of the song was essential for Hong Kong to protect national security. YouTube, in remarks criticizing the court’s decision, expressed concerns that the ruling would cast doubt on the Hong Kong government’s efforts to nurture the digital economy and restore its reputation as a reliable place for conducting business.
“We are disappointed by the Court’s decision but are complying with its removal order,” YouTube said in a statement. The company noted that it shares human rights groups’ concerns that the content ban could stifle free expression online. “We’ll continue to consider our options for an appeal to promote access to information.”
The ban is expected by some observers, including the US government, to further damage Hong Kong’s international standing as a financial hub and to raise concerns about the erosion of freedoms and its commitment to the free flow of information.
“From the perspective of free internet and free speech, it is not a desirable situation,” said George Chen, co-chair of the digital practice at the Asia Group, a Washington DC-based business policy consultancy. Chen is also the former head of public policy for Greater China at Meta.
Chen further stated, “Now the question is how far and how aggressive the government wants to go. If you start sending platforms 100 or 1,000 links for takedown every day, this will drive platforms crazy and also make global investors more worried about Hong Kong’s free market environment. The predictability and stability of the policy environment are crucial to foreign investors, and Hong Kong is currently at a critical juncture in defending its reputation.”
Industry groups, such as the Asia Internet Coalition, representing major tech firms like Meta, Apple, and Google, have emphasized that maintaining a free and open internet in Hong Kong is essential to preserving the city’s competitive edge.
The Hong Kong government did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
The move is not a precedent for the US technology sector or Google’s parent company, Alphabet, which has previously restricted items when legally mandated. Alphabet has also removed content in China. In 2010, Google withdrew its search engine from mainland China, where YouTube is inaccessible.
Unlike many countries, Hong Kong does not have an official anthem. “Glory to Hong Kong” was penned in 2019 during widespread pro-democracy protests, becoming an unofficial anthem alongside China’s “March of the Volunteers.”
In recent years, the US government has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong officials due to a broad national security crackdown on dissent. This crackdown has resulted in the imprisonment of numerous opposition democrats and the closure of liberal media outlets and civil society groups.
The former British colony returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under the “one country, two systems” principle, with an assurance that its freedoms would be preserved.