US tech giants to face free speech test in Hong Kong with new security law

After China imposed a controversial new National Security Law in Hong Kong, US tech giants like Facebook, Google and Twitter now face a free speech test in the country.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the new law requires local authorities to take steps to supervise and regulate the city’s internet. Facebook, Instagram service, Twitter and Google-owned YouTube currently operate freely in Hong Kong, unlike China where the great Firewall censor the US tech giants in mainland China.

“Refusing to comply with authorities’ demands could put the companies at risk of legal action and Beijing’s scrutiny,” according to the report.

If US tech giants delete user accounts or content in response to authorities’ demands, users would start fleeing the platforms.