Tech giants restrict chatbot access in Hong Kong

 

U.S. tech giants, including OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google, are reportedly restricting access to their AI chatbots in Hong Kong, according to the Wall Street Journal.  While the companies haven't offered official explanations, experts said the move may be linked to concerns about violating China's national security law. The move is believed to be a precautionary measure to avoid running afoul of the law, which enables censorship and crackdowns on dissent in the region. Some Hong Kong residents have still found ways to access the restricted chatbots through third-party apps or virtual private networks (VPNs). The report comes after Hong Kong officials recently sought to block online platforms from hosting the protest song "Glory to Hong Kong." The move reflects a trend of tech companies treating Hong Kong more like mainland China. A 2022 American Chamber of Commerce survey found that just over 50% of businesses were satisfied with Hong Kong's data freedom. However, 42% are concerned that they may lose free internet access in the future.