YouTube blocks Hong Kong protest hymn following court order.
YouTube recently announced that 32 web links playing "Glory to Hong Kong" have been geoblocked and are now unavailable in Hong Kong after a court order.
Trying to access the videos, which include instrumental and sign language versions of the song, results in messages like "This content is not available on this country domain due to a court order" or "This video isn't available anymore."
In an emailed response to CNN, a YouTube spokesperson stated, "We're disappointed by the Court's decision but are complying with its removal order by blocking access to the listed videos for viewers in Hong Kong. We'll continue to weigh our options for an appeal and work towards promoting access to information."
Previously, Google (GOOGL), who owns YouTube, quoted, "We're reviewing the court's judgment."
We reached out to Meta (META), who own Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, as well as Spotify (SPOT).
"Glory to Hong Kong" was crafted by an anonymous musician in August 2019 and became the unofficial anthem of pro-democracy protests. The authorities have argued the song contains separatist sentiments.
The lyrics include the phrase "liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times," a slogan that was deemed illegal in 2020. The Hong Kong government and courts deemed it to have secessionist and subversive implications.
The Asia Internet Coalition, which includes Spotify and Meta as members, is evaluating the implications of the decision, including how the injunction will be implemented, to assess its effect on companies.
Moreover, Jeff Paine, the group's managing director, underlined, "We believe a free and open internet is fundamental to the city's aspirations to be an international technology and innovation hub."
We've also sought comments from HK's Department of Justice.
Since then, "Glory to Hong Kong" has been mistakenly played at international sporting events involving Hong Kong teams, rather than China's national anthem "March of the Volunteers."
Pro-Beijing politicians and officials, including Hong Kong's Justice Minister, Paul Lam, have largely blamed Google's algorithm for allowing the song to appear at the top of search results.
In June 2020, HK's Department of Justice filed a court injunction to prohibit the broadcasting or distribution of the song. The injunction was initially turned down but was overturned last week following an appeal.
Hong Kong was promised autonomy and key freedoms when it was handed back to China from British rule in 1997. This led to Hong Kong becoming a notable site of free speech and creative expression within China's authoritarian regime.
However, since the crackdown on dissent after the 2019 democracy protests, Hong Kong has changed dramatically. This year, Hong Kong passed a second local security bill, known as Article 23, that targets seditious acts, espionage, and foreign interference. The Hong Kong and Beijing governments claim this legislation is needed to "restore stability" following the protests in 2019 and that it is similar to other national security laws around the globe.
CNN's Chris Lau contributed to this report.
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The media outlet CNN reported that Meta, the company behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, is also evaluating the impact of the court decision on their platforms. In the context of media businesses, YouTube's compliance with the court order highlights the complex interplay between tech companies, government orders, and freedom of expression.
Source: edition.cnn.com
