Internet Society Hong Kong’s Legal Challenge Against Govt’s Injunction of Blocking Free Speech Online
政府早前取得臨時禁制令，禁止任何於網上包括LIHKG及Telegram 發佈或轉發煽動暴力的言論 。禁制令條文涵蓋內容廣泛而含糊不清 , 限制網上言論, 更可迫使ISP 過濾內容甚至封鎖網站 。香港互聯網協會決定眾籌向法庭入稟覆核 ，阻止政府引入禁網。
The High Court in Hong Kong issued an interim injunction prohibiting anyone from posting and re-posting any information that promotes violence, including on LIHKG and Telegram. The injunction is vague and over-broad, and compromises freedom of speech online. Potentially the govt could even force ISPs into censoring or restricting access to certain sites. ISOC HK has decided to file a civil action to review against the injunction to defend Internet freedom, with the help from crowdfunding.
眾籌詳情 Crowdfunding details： https://gogetfunding.com/jrcensorship/
高等法院於10月31日頒布臨時禁制令，禁止任何人於網上，包括 LIHKG 及 Telegram，發佈或轉發任何促進、鼓勵或煽動使用或威脅使用暴力的言論。政府近日三番四次利用申請禁制令，變相繞過社會討論和立法會程序，無法無天。今次的禁制令侵犯市民言論自由，形同實施大規模 「網禁」的熱身動作。此例一開，全面網絡審查勢將再推進一步。
禁制令條文涵蓋內容廣泛而含糊不清，在連登和 Telegram發表批評警察濫暴或不滿政府的言論，甚至轉發網上內容隨時可被視為「煽動或教唆」，市民容易誤墮法網，猶如大陸的網上文字獄。更甚者，禁制令包括任何協助他人發佈相關言論，政府有可能會以禁令逼使網上平台或互聯網供應商過濾內容甚至封鎖網站。政府表面上透過禁制令禁止網上言論，日後隨時可再進一步實行網絡審查，徹底摧毀香港的資訊自由流通，後果不堪設想。香港作為全球資訊和互聯網樞紐，此舉對香港的聲譽造成無可挽回的嚴重損害。
再者，禁制令限制網上言論，製造寒蟬效應和白色恐怖，令市民在網上發言時自我審查。若不全力阻止，警察將可動輒以言入罪，令港人日後如大陸一般，因在網上發言而被安插「莫須有」罪名。
剝奪市民網上表達言論的自由，絕不能成為先例。為了阻止政府引入「禁網」，我們決定向法庭入稟覆核，竭力阻止「網上文字獄」的禁制令繼續生效。我們希望法庭裁定禁制令違憲，全力阻擋政府日後任何類似大陸式的防火長城過濾互聯網和言論審查的可能。此案或會上訴至更高的法院，法律費用不菲；一旦敗訴，我方或須承擔政府一方高昂的訟費。
對抗「防火長城」入侵香港，非單靠我們可以成事，因此我們發起眾籌計劃支持今次覆核和日後或出現的相關訴訟，希望香港人支持，一同守護香港網絡和言論自由。
The High Court in Hong Kong issued an interim injunction on October 31st, prohibiting anyone from willfully posting and reposting “any material or information that promotes, encourages or incites the use or threat of violence” online, including on LIHKG and Telegram. The latest government’s move to file another injunction was yet again an attempt to circumvent due public consultation and legislative process. The injunction is a severe threat to freedom of expression online. It is also an extremely dangerous first step of Internet censorship that we fear the government is paving way for implementing Internet shutdown.
The injunction provisions are overbroad, anyone who issues comments on police brutality and criticism on the government could potentially be construed to be “inciting, aiding or abetting” others to commit unlawful acts. The injunction can even go further to include anyone who simply ‘like’, share and respond to the comments. It is possible that with the use of the injunction, the government may force online platforms and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to censor and restrict access to websites and applications, or request private information of online users who are aiding in the dissemination of the online content. The injunction will not only affect free speech online, it will destroy Hong Kong’s open and free Internet, as well as free flow of information, if the government seeks to invoke more power to censor the Internet.
Introducing Internet censorship of online speech is similar to the Great Firewall of China. It is a serious breach of citizens’ freedom of expression and Hong Kong’s long cherished free flow of information. The government’s injunction creates a chilling effect, spreads white terror, and forces the public to engage in self-censorship. If the situation remains unchecked, the police could potentially use the injunction to persecute more innocent and law abiding citizens who have the courage to speak up against the government and injustice.
We must not allow a dangerous precedent to be set in curbing online free speech. In our best efforts to avert Internet blocking and censorship, we have decided to file a civil action to challenge against the injunction. We hope the court would rule the injunction unconstitutional and block the possibility of any attempts to censor the Internet in the future. The funds raised will be used to pay for the legal costs of the legal actions and bringing the case to higher courts if needed.
The fight against the Great Firewall of China belongs to us all. We call on you support on this crowdfunding campaign and together, we defend our freedom of speech and an open and free Internet.