BEIJING: A news report in The Wall Street Journal under the headline “Google Faces Pressure in Hong Kong Over Search Results for National Anthem”, published on Dec 6, pointed out the tension between the United States technology company and Hong Kong authorities due to the search engine’s display of a protest song as the top search result for the Chinese national anthem. The report further raised the question of whether Google can be legally compelled to update its search results.
It is universally believed that there is no absolute freedom when it comes to public speech, and that freedom of speech has limits under specific circumstances prescribed by law, such as safeguarding national security, ensuring public order or protecting the rights and reputation of another person.
According to Article 9 of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government “shall take necessary measures to strengthen public communication, guidance, supervision and regulation over matters concerning national security”, including those relating to the media and the internet.
The protest song, which was used by protesters and rioters during the 2019 social unrest in Hong Kong, is clearly subversive and should be restricted. Although Google is a US-based company, it is required to abide by the local laws of Hong Kong.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
