Google to refuse Hong Kong data requests

Google notified Hong Kong law enforcement last week that it would no longer provide data in response to direct requests and the territory would be treated as equivalent to mainland China for such purposes. This move comes in response to the imposition by China of a controversial national security law in the region. Hong Kong law enforcement will now have to obtain such data through the cumbersome and time-consuming channel of a Mutual Legal Assistance request to the United States.