Another messaging setback for the Hong Kong authorities, this time from WhatsApp.
In another blunt message to China, Facebook has slapped down attempts by the police in Hong Kong to use its WhatsApp messaging platform to collect intelligence on the pro-democracy protests. The plan had been to let members of the public message in photos and videos of protester activity. But Facebook stepped in and cut off the “hotlines,” which breached its “private use only without our permission” rules.
Facebook was clear that this wasn’t the case. The decision to cut the capability had been taken out of the hands of the police. A company spokesperson confirmed that “WhatsApp is primarily designed for private messaging and we take action to prevent bulk and automated messaging.”cited police sources admitting that the plan had not been well-prepared, the implication being that the action by Facebook was fairly predictable given the sensitivities involved. But the police isn’t done yet.
Facebook’s guidelines have been used on multiple occasions to stymie government abuse of its platforms, with misinformation campaigns using fake accounts and groups continually purged from its systems.
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