(Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google said on Friday that it would no longer provide data in response to requests from Hong Kong authorities following the introduction of a new national security law imposed by China.
The U.S. tech giant had not produced any data since the sweeping new law went into effect in June and would not immediately respond to such requests, it added.
“As always, authorities outside the U.S. may seek data necessary for criminal investigations through diplomatic procedures,” Google said in an email.
Google has monitored all requests for user data and returned them to “too broad” to protect users’ privacy, it added.
The Washington Post newspaper reported earlier on Friday that Google would stop responding directly to data requests from Hong Kong authorities, implying that the company would now treat Hong Kong more effectively than mainland China in such dealings.
The National Security Act has drawn criticism from the administration of US President Donald Trump and heightened US-China tensions following Washington’s decision to end the former British colony’s special status under US law.
Google announced to Hong Kong police on Thursday that it would direct officials to pursue all requests for information through a treaty for mutual legal assistance with the United States, which includes routing through the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington said. Post.
In July, Facebook Inc (FB.O), Google and Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) stopped processing government requests for user data in Hong Kong.
Tech companies have long operated freely in Hong Kong, a financial hub where internet access is not affected by the firewall imposed on mainland China, which blocks Google, Twitter and Facebook.
Report of Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Edited by Gerry Doyle and Stephen Coates
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