Hong Kong authorities said on Monday that anyone who refuses to hand over phone or computer passwords during investigations linked to national security could face up to one year in prison and fines up to HK$100,000 (about $12,700).
The requirement is part of a package of amendments to the national security law Beijing imposed in 2020. Under the change, people must provide any password or other decryption method needed to allow police, with a warrant, to access electronic devices believed to contain evidence.
The obligation applies not only to suspects accused of endangering national security but also to anyone who owns, controls, or is authorized to access the devices in question, and to anyone who knows the password or decryption method. Authorities say the duty to disclose applies even where confidentiality rules or professional restrictions exist, including in cases involving journalists, doctors, and lawyers.
A government spokesperson said the new rules are intended to ensure activities that threaten national security can be effectively prevented, suppressed and punished while protecting the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations.
Hong Kong and Beijing say the national security law restored stability to the city after the large 2019 pro-democracy protests. Human rights groups and many Western governments argue the law has been used to curb democratic freedoms and silence political dissent.
Edited by Elizabeth Schumacher