Alibaba has won a preliminary court order blocking a US restriction that drove away its Washington lobbyists, after a federal judge found the Chinese technology giant was likely to succeed in challenging the measure on free-speech grounds. US District Judge Eumi K. Lee ruled on Monday that the government had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the restriction, which effectively forces lobbying firms to choose between representing Alibaba and clients seeking Pentagon...

The 2027 US defence bill, covering more than US$1 trillion in proposed defence spending, will be one of the most closely watched pieces of legislation when Congress returns after the midterm elections, with efforts to counter China running through nearly every corner of the text. The US House of Representatives passed its version of the bill, known as the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), in July. The bill faces a tougher path in the US Senate, where a July procedural vote to begin...

Hong Kong lawmakers have raised concerns about the hefty cost of developing a flagship tech hub and a neighbouring wetland park near the city’s border with mainland China, as the government seeks to secure a fresh HK$27 billion for the second round of works. During a Legislative Council development panel meeting on Tuesday, government officials explained the HK$27.2 billion proposal. It covers forming 175 hectares (432 acres) of land at the San Tin Technopole, establishing more than one-third of...

Warning: graphic content follows. Slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung’s dismembered remains were found inside a rural village flat that reeked of disinfectant when police arrived at the scene three days after the model’s alleged murder, a court has heard. A police detective involved in the investigation said on Tuesday that officers cordoned off the 600 square foot rental flat in Tai Po’s Lung Mei village on the evening of February 24, 2023, after he found human remains and an array of...

A Hong Kong political commentator charged with revealing details of a national security probe has testified that he did not believe an investigation was underway. Wong On-yin’s YouTube Channel. Photo: Screenshot, via YouTube. Wong Kwok-ngon, known by his pen name Wong On-yin, continued his testimony at the District Court on Tuesday. The 72-year-old, who is representing himself, was arrested last December after publishing two YouTube videos discussing a meeting with national security police that took place the day before. Revealing details of a national security investigation is a crime under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), the city’s homegrown security law known locally as Article 23. National security police had brought him in to discuss a press conference about the fatal Wang Fuk Court fire, which had occurred days earlier, at which Wong was scheduled to speak. In response to the prosecution’s questions, Wong confirmed that he did say in his video that he met the officers at Mong Kok Police Station, and that he described their ages and appearances. But he said he had put in considerable thought before publishing the videos, and that it was his judgement that police were not carrying out an investigation. Wong said he believed the meeting’s purpose was just for officers to stop the press conference from going ahead. District Court in Wan Chai. File photo: HKFP. Wong added that officers asked him what he planned to talk about during the press conference – which was eventually called off – and whether he had collaborated with any organisations. Therefore, he did not think there was a problem with talking about the meeting, he said. He also told the court that police handed him a confidentiality agreement during the meeting, but that he “basically did not look at it.” Media reports Tuesday marked the 12th day of the trial, in which Wong is representing himself. During the first day of his testimony, he told the court that he held bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law. On Tuesday, Wong also said he did not consider it an act of disclosure when the information being discussed was already known to the public. Wong On-yin. Photo: Screenshot, via YouTube. Wong said the media had already reported the news that he had been taken in by national security police. When asked by the prosecution whether what he said in the videos – including the people he met with and what was discussed – went beyond what was reported in the media, Wong agreed. Wong also faces a sedition charge in relation to 30 commentary videos he posted between January and December last year. Tuesday’s hearing began with Wong playing four videos from his YouTube channel that were not among those 30. In those four videos, Wong talked about topics such as the Wang Fuk Court fire. For example, he spoke on controversies in renovation projects and the removal of four investigative articles by state-backed outlet Ta Kung Pao about the construction at the housing estate. He told the court he wanted to give a more complete picture of his commentary, and that he had never incited the public to take part in any action. The trial will continue on Wednesday.

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has issued guidelines on using AI-powered “smart glasses” in a “privacy-respecting manner,” in an effort to prevent covert collection of personal data. A pair of Ray-Ban-Meta smart glasses. Photo: Caleb Oquendo/Pexels.com The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data on Tuesday published the “Smart Glasses: Tips on Protecting Personal Data Privacy” guidance note, warning that misuse of the camera-fitted eyewear could pose heightened privacy risks. “Smart glasses can be used to take photos, record videos or audio discreetly, which may increase the risk of excessive or covert collection of personal data,” Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung said in a statement. “The photos, videos, audio and other data captured by smart glasses may be analysed and processed by AI systems, giving rise to additional privacy risks,” she added. The watchdog warned that the use of smart glasses increases the risks of “improper collection” of sensitive personal information in hospitals, clinics, and changing rooms – locations where people reasonably expect a higher degree of privacy. AI-enabled functions further amplify privacy risks, including excessive collection of personal data, surveillance, and the sharing of data with product and service providers, it said. The guide lists nine recommendations for users to respect privacy while using the device, such as by carefully reviewing privacy settings to limit the sharing of data with third-party service providers. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. File photo: Peter Lee/HKFP. It also urged users to avoid using the device or activating recording functions in sensitive locations, and warned against using smart glasses for criminal acts, including the unlawful recording of intimate images or filming in restricted areas. Big tech companies have been developing AI-powered smart glasses, believing that wearables could one day be customers’ main gateway to interacting with artificial intelligence. Meta, for example, has been selling smart glasses in collaboration with popular eyewear brands Ray-Ban and Oakley. The eyewear has already sparked widespread privacy concerns abroad over covert surveillance in public spaces. Critics have dubbed the devices “pervert glasses” after videos emerged on social media showing men wearing them to secretly film women. Earlier this month, the European Data Protection Board, the EU’s privacy watchdog, also called for timely and accessible guidance on data protection issues surrounding the use of smart glasses.

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