Hong Kong police can demand phone and computer passwords
The change broadens state authority over digital privacy for NSL targets.
Change
Hong Kong police can demand phone or computer passwords from people suspected of breaching the National Security Law, and refusal carries up to one year in jail and a HK$100,000 fine.
Why it matters
The amendment requires individuals under national security suspicion to provide access to electronic devices during investigations, removing a practical route to keep device contents private. It also extends customs powers to seize items deemed to have seditious intent, widening the range of materials vulnerable to confiscation.
Implications
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