Why was TikTok shut down in Hong Kong? |

In March 2024, the United States was considering passing a bill to ban TikTok due to concerns about China's access to US citizens' personal data. But in 2020, TikTok stopped offering the service in Hong Kong. Because they are also under pressure from the security law, they are expected to avoid giving platform user information to government officials

Last March, the US House of Representatives passed a TikTok bill (HR7521) to force social media owner TikTok to cut ties with its Chinese parent company ByteDance or else it would be banned in the United States. President Joe Biden said he would sign the bill if the Senate approves it. The legislation comes amid concerns that the Beijing government will have influence over the popular TikTok app. And fears that it could be used to access Americans' personal information.

before Mike Pompeo City police strictly prohibited ministry officials from installing the TikTok application.

TikTok is a social media platform that focuses on sharing videos, photos, or live streaming. ByteDance previously launched a similar social media format in China with the app name Douyin, before later launching TikTok as a social media platform similar to Douyin but in an international version. This leaves Douyin in China, but not TikTok, and TikTok is also banned in mainland China. And in Hong Kong, TikTok can still be used in 2020.

Chinese authorities, who are banning TikTok and other Western social media at home and in order to prevent Chinese companies from using TikTok, said they “will take all necessary measures, resolute in upholding their legitimate rights and interests,” the US said.

However, the law enforcement incident forced TikTok to stop providing services. This is not only happening in the US, but in 2020, after Hong Kong enacted a security law, TikTok was forced to shut down its service as well.

Currently, anyone in Hong Kong who wants to watch a TikTok clip receives the following message: “We regret to inform you that “We have closed TikTok in Hong Kong. Thank you for spending your time with us and giving us the opportunity to bring a little joy into your life. “

If someone in Hong Kong tries to access TikTok using the domain name in an internet browser, they will be redirected to the company's website instead. This causes Hong Kong residents to turn to other social media platforms such as YouTube or Instagram.

TikTok will stop serving in Hong Kong in 2020 after the security law is announced

Statement regarding the termination of the TikTok service from ByteDance and must go back to July 6, 2020, that is, a few days after the Chinese authorities announced the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, on July 1, 2020. The statement stated, “Due to recent events, we have decided to stop the TikTok application in Hong Kong.” The comment followed several days later, but TikTok did not give a specific reason for removing the app.

Hong Kong's Security Law 2017 gives police the power to request the removal of online content if there are “reasons” to suspect that the content violates national security laws. The police may ask the service provider to host the platform. Also send introductory notes or help with data coding. Otherwise, they will be fined up to 100,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 470,000 baht) and imprisoned for 6 months.

In response to China's security law, most Western IT companies have suspended compliance with government data requests made under the security law. The main IT platforms The companies that stopped following these orders are Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter (now X), Telegram, Zoom, and LinkedIn from Microsoft.

At the time, a Google spokesperson said: “We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support people's right to express their opinions without fear of their safety or other reprisals.”

A Twitter spokesperson said at the time that they “care about and have a responsibility to protect the people who use our services and their freedom of expression.”

Media HKFP We asked several social media companies. Whether it's Meta (the owner of Facebook), Google, does this extend to the more recent security law drafted by the Hong Kong government itself, which is called the Section 23 Law? These social media companies have not yet provided an answer.

While China's 2020 security law was attempted, there was no legislative review process at all, and the bill was passed a year after massive pro-democracy protests and civil unrest. This law includes criminal penalties for: acts of sabotage, sedition, collusion with foreigners, and terrorism, which are defined broadly and include obstruction of transportation and other infrastructure as well.

Hong Kong's Security Law 2020 gives police the power to arrest hundreds of people under the new law. At the same time, civil society groups are shrinking. Hong Kong authorities claim they are using the law to restore stability and calm in the city. He rejected criticism from trading partner countries, including from the United Nations and various NGO groups.

Bydance has always denied this and they do not hand over any personal data about TikTok users to the Chinese authorities. However, China's national security law requires Chinese companies to cooperate with the authorities if information is requested by them.

“We have never provided (TikTok) user information to the Chinese government and will not continue to request it. (From the Chinese government) came,” the media quoted a TikTok spokesperson as saying.

Byte Dance Company is headquartered in Beijing, China. It also has branches in Europe and the United States, with its official registration in the Cayman Islands.

It is estimated that TikTok has approximately one billion users around the world. However, it blocks users in Hong Kong through blocking method based on IP address and SIM card of Hong Kong mobile phones. Users in Hong Kong who want to use TikTok will still be able to do so by removing their Hong Kong SIM card and using a VPN tool to “bypass” the block instead.

However, TikTok in mainland China, Douyin, is still available.

Compiled from

Explained: Why is TikTok blocked in Hong Kong?, HKFP, 15-03-2024
https://hongkongfp.com/2024/03/15/explainer-why-is-tiktok-blocked-in-hong-kong/

Additional information from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok