YouTube blocks banned Hong Kong protest anthem ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ — Radio Free Asia

YouTube has prevented get entry to to dozens of movies containing the stopped protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong” for audience within the range following a court docket injunction terminating presen that mentioned it might be impaired as a “weapon” in order unwell the federal government.

The corporate, which is owned by way of Google’s dad or mum Alphabet, mentioned 32 movies that includes the stopped tune had been geoblocked and are actually unavailable within the town, which is within the throes of an ongoing clampdown on people dissent.

“We are 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,” a YouTube spokesperson mentioned in a remark despatched to a couple of media organizations. 

“We’ll proceed to imagine our choices for an attraction, to advertise get entry to to knowledge,” the remark mentioned, including that Google seek effects for the tune would even be hidden to customers within the town.

People performances of the tune are already stopped in Hong Kong, as its lyrics are deemed unlawful underneath stringent nationwide safety regulation.

However the Courtroom of Enchantment on Would possibly 8 granted the federal government a brief injunction to deal with its persevered availability on-line, calling it a “weapon” which may be impaired in order unwell the federal government, and an “insult” to China’s nationwide anthem.

“Glory to Hong Kong,” which sparked a police investigation then organizers performed it incorrect at contemporary out of the country carrying fixtures, was once steadily sung by way of crowds of unarmed protesters throughout the 2019 protests, which ranged from non violent pile demonstrations for complete liberty to intermittent, pitched battles between “front-line” protesters and armed rebellion police.

The tune requires self-rule and liberty instead than sovereignty, however was once nevertheless deemed in breach of the regulation because of its “separatist” intent, officers and cops mentioned originally of an ongoing citywide crackdown on people dissent and non violent political activism.

Govt injunction

Extreme presen’s restrain got here then the Courtroom of First Example unwanted the federal government’s software for an injunction on July 28, 2023 bringing up a “chilling effect” on self-rule of accentuation.

The injunction bans any person in Hong Kong from “broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, disseminating, displaying or reproducing” the tune with seditious intent, together with on-line.

The Hong Kong govt had previous requested Google to vary its seek effects, to disagree avail.

Date Hong Kong isn’t but matter to China’s Superior Firewall of blanket web censorship, some web sites related to the protest motion together with HKChronicles are prevented by way of web carrier suppliers within the town. The web page of the London-based rights staff Hong Kong Keep tabs on could also be prevented.

A Wikipedia access for the tune gave the impression on the lead of Google seek effects for the word “Hong Kong national anthem” out of doors the town on Wednesday. 

The tune’s labeling as “Hong Kong’s national anthem” on YouTube has been “highly embarrassing and hurtful to many people of Hong Kong, not to mention its serious damage to national interests,” the Courtroom of Enchantment judges mentioned after they granted the injunction terminating presen.

Hong Kong handed a regulation in 2020 making it unlawful to insult China’s nationwide anthem on ache of as much as 3 years’ imprisonment, following a layout of incidents during which Hong Kong football fanatics booed their very own anthem within the stadium.

“The song has also been sung and promoted by prominent anti-China destabilizing forces and national security offenses fugitives in events provoking hatred towards the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government,” the judges wrote.

Translated by way of Luisetta Mudie. Edited by way of Joshua Lipes.