the Chinese authorities criticized YouTube for deleting the account of a politician who should become Hong Kong’s next leader, accusing the video-sharing platform from interfering with internal affairs of the country.
YouTube announced on Wednesday (20) that it suspended the official campaign channel of John Lee, the only candidate slated to become Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive Kong. Googlethe platform controller, said that it’s just complying with US sanctions.
A Google spokesperson told the CNN on wednesday that “the company closed the Johnlee2022 channel” after analyzing the US laws and YouTube’s terms of service. were not additional information provided.
On Thursday (21), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China accused “some US companies” of being “political tools” for the US government, alleging that the United States has “bad” intentions to “interfere” with Hong Kong elections.
“No pressure maneuver or sabotage can affect the good progress of the election of the Chief Executive or contain the overwhelming tendency of an upheaval from chaos to stability in Hong Kong,” said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the ministry, told reporters when asked about the issue at a press conference.
On a communiqué held on Thursday night, a government spokesperson for Hong Kong reiterated “strong opposition” to a US “social media company” in the face of removal of Lee’s campaign channel.
The government and all sectors of society oppose strongly and show extreme indignation with any form of interference by foreign forces in Hong Kong’s internal affairs,” including issues related to the election of the city’s next great leader, the spokesperson added. Google declined to comment on Chinese officials’ objections on Friday.
In 2020, the US Treasury Department applied sanctions to nearly a dozen officials in Hong Kong and from Mainland China –including Lee– for his involvement in introduction of a new national security law.
The legislation –extremely controversial– forbids any activity that Beijing deems secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces and allows the Chinese state security acts in the territory.
Lee, a former police officer who managed to rise to the position of chief of city security and, later, secretary-general, the second highest political office, commented on the restriction of YouTube on Wednesday.
I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to use the platform, but it won’t affect my campaign and outreach actions.
John Lee
Lee also derided the sanctions, calling them “irrational” and “acts of bullying”.
When asked whether it would penalize companies that comply with US sanctions, such as Google if it becomes Executive Chairman Lee said he “will act in accordance with with Hong Kong law”.
Restrictions on Facebook
YouTube’s action raised questions about the possibility of the politician is also excluded from other social networks westerners.
On Wednesday, Meta commented on the matter, saying that Lee could stay on their platforms –Facebook and Instagram– but you will not be allowed to use the advertising tools.
Lee “may continue to have a demonetized presence in the Facebook and Instagram, and we have taken steps to prevent your use of paid services,” the social media giant said in a statement, adding that “As a US company, we operate within US restrictions, which vary by with the circumstances”.
“If we identify accounts held by or on behalf of Specially Designated Nationals who are on the US government’s list, we are required by law to take certain actions,” he said, referring to a list of individuals sanctioned by Washington.
Hong Kong government spokesman said on Thursday that “the so-called “sanctions” imposed by the US are a clear interference in the internal affairs of the People’s Republic of China” and added that the government is opposed to any action that could compromise “the freedoms of expression and disclosure of information, as well as the fairness and impartiality of the Internet”.
Lee should be chosen as Hong Kong’s next leader by a committee composed largely of legislators and pro-Beijing industry representatives on May 8.
Source: CNN Brasil
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