Hong Kong Comes for the Right to Privacy
Hong Kong Comes for the Right to Privacy
Publish Date: 2026-04-22 08:35:00
Source Domain: www.realclearworld.com
If you value privacy, you may not want to go to Hong Kong anytime soon. Already reeling under the draconian National Security Law, the government of Hong Kong decided it didn’t go far enough. Now, the right to privacy is going out the window for computer passwords. Once a beacon of liberty, Hong Kong is fast becoming a warning sign for how fast tyranny can be imposed.
According to the amendment to the National Security Law (NSL), anyone who refuses to give up their computer password could be sentenced to a year in prison. This includes professionals whose devices contain privileged information, such as journalists, doctors, and lawyers, making the NSL even more stringent than it was before the amendment. Already, the NSL imposes harsh sanctions on anyone accused of sedition. Hundreds of Hong Kongers have been arrested under the law, with a conviction rate of over 80%%. Erasing any doubt that Hong Kong has the rule of law.
This amendment is significant for a couple of reasons. First, it interferes with the right to a fair trial. Defendants need to be able to communicate openly with their attorneys. If a lawyer’s computers and cellphones are subject to warrantless searches, defendants will not openly discuss their cases with their lawyers, hampering their ability to strategize. Second, the amendment can be used as a fishing expedition by law enforcement. Under the rule of law, the burden of proof lies with the prosecutor to prove that the accused has credibly committed a crime. After the recent amendment, Hong Kong law enforcement can simply search through people’s records until they find something incriminating.
This doesn’t just affect Hong Kong residents; foreigners are also subject to the amendment to the NSL, including businessmen, tourists, and even people merely passing through. As a result, the US Consulate General in…
