?? What happens in Hong Kong doesn’t stay in Hong Kong. ??
At the China in the World conference hosted by Doublethink Lab in Johannesburg, South Africa last month, I shared insights from my research on Hong Kong’s digital transformation—a cautionary tale for global internet freedom.
Since 2020, Hong Kong has become a testing ground for China’s digital authoritarian playbook, with new laws, subtle censorship strategies, and corporate complicity reshaping its digital landscape. These developments have far-reaching implications for policymakers, businesses, and civil society worldwide.
?? Key insights from my talk:
1?? Regulatory Shifts: Hong Kong’s laws increasingly align with mainland China’s policies, setting a dangerous precedent for others to follow.
2?? Content Censorship: Targeted restrictions, enforced via ISPs, create an effective but less visible control mechanism.
3?? Corporate Complicity: ICT companies play a pivotal role in data sharing and content moderation—sometimes to the detriment of digital rights.
4?? Self-Censorship: Vague laws and high compliance costs lead to over-compliance, chilling free expression far beyond legal mandates.
5?? Global Risks: The erosion of digital rights in Hong Kong provides authoritarian regimes worldwide with a model to emulate.
?? Current Developments to Watch:
? Hong Kong's Critical Infrastructure Bill—potentially introducing further restrictions.
? The UN General Assembly's upcoming vote on the cybercrime convention, which could redefine global internet governance.
?? Why this matters:
Hong Kong’s story is not just local—it’s a global warning. Its experience highlights the intersection of governance, technology, and human rights, offering lessons for safeguarding internet freedom and privacy worldwide.
?? To learn more, read the full report I authored for China Strategic Risks Institute on Hong Kong’s digital transformation and its implications: https://lnkd.in/gvp6VhVy
Let’s work together to protect a free and open internet.
#DigitalRights #InternetFreedom #HongKong #ChinaDigitalStrategy #InternetGovernance