A media activist, researcher and educator currently based in Hong Kong. My Chinese writings are in inmediahk.net and my Twitter account is @oiwan.
Latest posts by Oiwan Lam
Commentators discourage extending national security crackdowns to ‘soft resistance’ in Hong Kong
The government is considering clamping down on “soft resistance” when drafting the local version of National Security Law (HK-NSL).
A forensic investigation finds a site that doxxes Hong Kong activists and journalists is likely backed by Beijing
Toronto-based Citizen Lab finds circumstantial evidence that suggests the campaign operators held links to mainland China.
Digital rights activist groups urge tech giants to defend against Hong Kong’s injunctions against protest anthem
More than 24 human rights and digital rights groups believed that the injunctions, once granted, would have a “disastrous effect” on freedom of expression and information access, with global implications.
Hong Kong Court asks: Who are the defendants of the protest anthem injunctions?
"Even if [the injunction] successfully restrained Google, it would only prohibit its circulation within Hong Kong. The SAR government has to apply an injunction in the U.S.A to take down the videos globally […]"
Hong Kong authorities clamp down on the annual commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown
Ahead of the 34th anniversary of the June 4th 1989 Tiananmen crackdowns, the Chinese term “special days” or “special occasion” replaced former political slogans like “vindication of June 4” because of censorship
Hong Kong purges public libraries of politically sensitive books
The Audit Commission released a report demanding the public library operator step up its efforts in removing books that were “manifestly contrary” to the interests of national security.
Veteran Hong Kong labor rights activist arrested on suspicion of foreign collusion
The 65-year-old labour rights activist Elizabeth Tang was arrested outside Stanley prison on suspicion of foreign collusion after visiting her husband Lee Chuek Yan who is charged with "inciting subversion."
Will Chinese advanced AI chatbots survive China’s online censorship?
China Digital Times asked a Chinese chatbot “How do you comment on Chinese leader Xi Jinping?” and the chatbot answered, “Your entry contains rule-breaking terms, please re-enter.”
Anti-zero-COVID ‘white paper’ protesters face forced disappearance in China
An unknown number of anti-zero COVID policy protesters were forced into disappearance during Christmas and Lunar New Year break in China.
Hong Kong launches a national security legal battle against media tycoon Jimmy Lai
"Jimmy Lai, a 75-year-old media tycoon, is PRC's no.1 national enemy in Hong Kong...He may not be able to get out of prison alive."
Chinese social media platforms add hidden digital watermarks to track screenshot sharing
At least two Chinese social media platforms have added a script to their sites and applications to generate a hidden digital watermark to track the original user behind screenshot sharing.
A Chinese office platform confirms that users’ files on its cloud server are subject to censorship
Cloud platforms are required by laws to review and censor users' documents on private cloud drives in China.
China: Possible police database breach exposes at least 1 billion citizens’ personal data
"...the data breach is a fresh new case of a dictator’s dilemma: the more you concentrate, the more you lose control."
China: Weibo’s new location tag exposes the whereabouts of users, opinion leaders and tiny pinks
Despite privacy concerns, the location data has unexpectedly exposed the whereabouts of pro-government opinion leaders and patriotic trolls.
Why have attempts to debunk Russian war propaganda on Weibo failed?
China relies on Russian propaganda as the main source of information on the Ukraine crisis. Censorship instruction forbids Sino-Russian antagonism and anti-war declaration. Love triangle analogy has gone viral.
Internet watchdog finds encryption flaw in mandatory Chinese Olympic app
Athletes, journalists and all other attendees of the Beijing Winter Olympics are required to use the My2022 app but data submitted through the app may be intercepted.
International media watchdog digs into the ‘great leap backwards’ of journalism in China
Reporters Without Borders' report presents an extensive account of how China has repressed freedom of expression and the right to information in recent years.
Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Awards highlights Hong Kong's censored productions
Beijing's boycott of the Golden Horse Film Awards has generated a space for Hong Kong's independent, less-commercial productions in the international film market.
An interview with media scholar Rose Luqiu about WeChat and techno-nationalism
"A major factor is censorship or 'coerced loyalty.' As other communication tools like Facebook and Twitter are unavailable in China. WeChat has a very special [monopoly] status in China."
“Hong Kong, add oil” is censored as Pro-Beijingers associate the expression with sedition
"This paranoia says nothing but weakness. Changing shirts and covering up tattoos are easy things to do. Changing hears and minds? Forget about it."
