YouTube blocked the user’s access to videos of Hong Kong’s popular protest song, days after an injunction to ban the song was allowed by the court in the city. ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ had emerged as the anthem song of the anti-government protests held in 2019.
‘The company would comply with the removal order and access to more than 32 YouTube videos of the song would be blocked after the song was deemed to be prohibited publications under the injunction’, said YouTube.
Any attempts made by users to get access to YouTube videos from Hong Kong on Wednesday stated that they were unavailable. A message appeared instead of the video, saying ‘This content is not available on this country domain due to a court order’.
While approving the application of the government to ban the song the court agreed that it can be weaponised and used for inciting secession. In an emailed statement, YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., said, ‘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’.
‘We’ll continue to consider our options for an appeal, to promote access to information’, the company stated. It further added that the concerns of human rights organisations about the ban’s chilling effect on free expression online were shared by them.
As per YouTube, the links to the 32 videos on YouTube will also now not appear on Google Search for users in Hong Kong. Co-chair of digital practice at Washington-headquartered business and policy consultancy Asia Group George Chen said that it is worth watching how Hong Kong authorities have been asking internet platforms to remove the song.
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