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Hong Kong government requires Google to delete 164 items in the first half of 2023

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HONG KONG - The latest transparency report released by the American technology company Google shows that the Hong Kong government made 72 data deletion requests in the first half of this year, involving a total of 164 requests. These requests come from various entities, including law enforcement agencies.

Law enforcement agencies made 101 of all requests (approximately 61.5%). Among them, 3 were requests related to national security issues and 7 were involved in cases. Data protection authorities account for approximately 30% of requests, with the remaining 8.5% made by other requesters.


According to Google, in March this year, the company received requests from law enforcement agencies regarding two YouTube videos that incorrectly played "Glory to Hong Kong" as the national anthem during sporting events.


Law enforcement authorities said the content constituted an intentional insult to the national anthem. In April, Google received another request from local law enforcement to remove five YouTube videos, including a documentary about imprisoned activists titled "Hong Kongers." Law enforcement agencies argued that the content was inflammatory and violated Chapter 200 of Hong Kong's Crimes Ordinance. The videos are considered in contempt of court as the activists' case is still before the courts. Ultimately, Google did not remove the seven YouTube videos mentioned above.


In May, Google received another request from law enforcement to remove a URL from Google Drive. The website generated a form encouraging participants to submit their own recordings of the song "Glory to Hong Kong" for a compilation video. Law enforcement agencies claimed that the form was related to activities advocating overthrow of the government and violated Articles 22 and 23 of Hong Kong’s National Security Law. However, Google did not delete the relevant files from Google Drive.


Statistics show that in the first half of this year, a total of 164 products were requested to be removed from the shelves, including 7 products involving national security, 57 products involving privacy security, 32 products involving impersonation of identity, and 47 products involving fraud . . Additionally, there are 19 other categories of projects, 35 of which are related to the YouTube platform.


Of those items, Google ultimately removed 69% of items requested by data protection agencies and 40% of items requested by law enforcement agencies. Among the items deleted, 70 items (42.7%) were deleted due to policy requirements and 12 items (7.3%) were deleted due to legal obligations, which together accounted for approximately half of the requested items. However, Google took no action to remove 22 items (13.4%), leaving 22 items (13.4%) unaffected. The remaining 47 items (28.7%) were deemed to have insufficient information or could not be found.


香港政府要求谷歌在2023年上半年删除164项内容


美国科技公司谷歌发布的最新透明度报告显示,今年上半年香港政府提出72项数据删除要求,涉及总数164项。 这些请求来自各个实体,包括执法机构。


执法机构提出了 101 项请求(约占 61.5%)。 其中,涉及国家安全问题的请求3起,涉及案件7起。 数据保护机构约占请求的 30%,其余 8.5% 由其他请求者提出。


据谷歌称,今年3月,该公司收到执法机构针对两段YouTube视频在体育赛事期间错误播放《愿荣光归香港》作为国歌的要求。 执法部门表示,该内容构成故意侮辱国歌。


今年 4 月,谷歌收到了当地执法部门的另一项要求,要求删除 5 个 YouTube 视频,其中包括一部名为《香港人》的关于被监禁活动人士的纪录片。 执法机构辩称,该内容具有煽动性,违反香港《刑事罪行条例》第200章。 这些视频被视为藐视法庭,因为活动人士的案件仍在法庭审理中。 最终,谷歌并未删除上述七个 YouTube 视频。


今年 5 月,谷歌收到了执法部门的另一项要求,要求从 Google 云端硬盘中删除某个网址。 该网站生成了一份表格,鼓励参与者提交自己录制的歌曲《愿荣光归香港》的录音,以制作合辑视频。 执法机关声称该表格与鼓吹推翻政府的活动有关,违反香港国安法第22条和第23条。 不过,谷歌并未从Google Drive中删除相关文件。


统计显示,今年上半年,共有164款产品被要求下架,其中涉及国家安全的产品7款、涉及隐私安全的产品57款、涉及冒充身份的产品32款、涉及诈骗的产品47款。 。 。 此外,还有其他 19 个类别的项目,其中 35 个与 YouTube 平台相关。


在这些项目中,Google 最终删除了数据保护机构要求的 69% 的项目和执法机构要求的 40% 的项目。 删除的项目中,因政策要求删除的项目70项(42.7%),因法律义务删除的项目12项(7.3%),合计约占要求项目的一半。 然而,Google 没有采取任何行动删除 22 个项目 (13.4%),使 22 个项目 (13.4%) 不受影响。 其余 47 项(28.7%)被认为信息不足或无法找到。

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