Hong Kongers scrub social media history in face of security law

Despite assurances from Beijing that political freedoms would not be hindered, many Hong Kongers deleted digital references of their opposition to China's ruling Communist Party. — AFP

HONG KONG: Hong Kongers are scrubbing their social media accounts, deleting chat histories and mugging up on cyber privacy as China's newly imposed security law blankets the traditionally outspoken city in fear and self-censorship.

China's authoritarian leaders enacted sweeping new powers on June 30 – keeping the contents secret until the last minute – after more than a year of often violent protests in a financial hub increasingly chafing under Beijing's rule.