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Breaking: Hong Kong Journalists Association deeply concerned that National Security Department detained a journalist and withheld travel documents to assist in investigation

The reporter who recorded the incident live belongs to an online news outlet. Accompanied by the lawyer of the HKJA, the reporter gave her testimony to the police at the Police Headquarters on the following day. The police said they will contact her through her lawyer if necessary, and will also notify the Journalists Association. Her role, according to the police, was to "assist in investigation".

However, at 11pm on July 26, 2021, without making contact through the lawyer, the national security police arrived at the temporary residence of the reporter, and demanded yet another testimony at the Police Headquarters.

Accompanied by national security personnel, the reporter then called her lawyer, only to tell the lawyer that their presence was not needed at the police station.

The reporter gave another testimony to the national security police, and was only accompanied by a friend. The reporter was taken to her original residence for the police to "collect evidence". The police also confiscated the travel document of the reporter.

The police had also not contacted the HKJA as promised. After learning of the incident, the Association immediately contacted the police to express their disapproval. After much deliberation, the HKJA lawyer was finally able to arrive at Chai Wan Police Station to accompany the journalist at 1am July 27.

As the HKJA learned, the journalist's role is still to "assist in investigation". However, she has now already given a cautioned statement, and the police has confiscated her travel documents. Furthermore, the documents are detained under authority of the National Security Department.

The HKJA stresses that a reporter who recorded a suspected crime being committed on live video is only carrying out their duty as a journalist. The reporter had also carried out their civic duty of assisting the police investigation, and should receive only recognition, rather than the treatment this journalist had received.

The HKJA demands an immediate explanation from the police, whether the reporter involved is only "assisting in investigation". If so, why did the police search her residence and confiscate her travel documents?

Following from the above, do future witnesses or potential witnesses also risk having their travel documents confiscated?

The HKJA stresses that this incident is equivalent to a threat against all journalists in Hong Kong. If merely recording an incident could turn a journalist into a suspect, then how can journalists perform their work with a peace of mind?

Government officials have said multiple times that the National Security Law only "affects a small handful of people". However, the acts of the National Security Department here is entirely contrary to the words of the officials. Because of it, all journalists in Hong Kong have been "affected", even "threatened".

HKJA calls for the police to respond immediately to the incident. The association also calls on all journalists to follow the incident, to safeguard the freedom of press and our own rights.

Source: Hong Kong Journalists Association #Jul27

https://www.facebook.com/242729300308/posts/10159255381655309/?sfnsn=mo
#Surveillance
Portable charger in China Turned into Eavesdropping Device and GPS Locator


In China, a portable charger can become an eavesdropping device and a GPS locator. Acoording to Chinese media, with the installation of SIM card, such portable charger can eavesdrop a long distance away and locate the user accurately.

These devices come in various colours and models, but most have the functionality of "remote monitoring recording" and "precise positioning".

They cost from RMB300 to RMB600 and can be bought on some online platforms.

In China, a journalist from #Banyuetan (#半月談) successfully modifies a portable charger from a store with RMB300. He downloads a "#GPS365" app onto his phone. After logging in with the username and password given by the seller, the screen shows the device location, tracking record, contact list, messages etc.

The journalist puts "location" in trial and finds out that the activity tracking of the user can be seen clearly with the portable charger. Even places like underground and car parks can still be accurately shown on the system.

The staff told the journalist that the charger could record sound from the surroundings and automatically send the recording to the phone once the environment noise exceeds 50dB with "Sound Control Convo (#聲控語聊到)" installed in the app. The portable charger can also pick up phone calls automatically.

Source: RFA #Jul27
https://www.facebook.com/454004001340790/posts

#GPS #SoundControl #Tracking #Taobao #Privacy #Security #PrecisePositioning #MadeinChina