‘Facebook, Google say could quit HK over proposed data laws’

US tech giants Facebook Inc., Alphabet Inc’s Google and Twitter Inc. have privately warned the Hong Kong government that they could stop offering their services in the city if authorities proceed with planned changes to data-protection laws, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing a letter.

The laws could make the tech companies liable for the malicious sharing of individuals’ information online, the newspaper added.

A letter sent by an industry group that includes the Internet firms said companies are concerned that the planned rules to address “doxing” could put their staff at risk of criminal investigations or prosecution related to what the firms’ users post online, the Journal reported.

Doxing is an act of revealing people’s personal information such as real name, home address or workplace online without the user’s permission.

Facebook, Google and Twitter did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

(Reuters)