Snitch hotline created by Hong Kong cops to crack down on activists
These snitches probably won’t need stitches.
Hong Kong police have launched an anonymous hotline which allows residents to report their neighbors for violations of China’s harsh new security law, the Guardian reported. The tip line opened Thursday.
China’s national security law, passed in late June, has already been used to crack down on pro-democracy activists in semi-autonomous Hong Kong.
Snitches can send photos, audio and video through email, text or WeChat, according to the BBC. Police said they would not respond to any messages.
Authorities also said that the tip line would be anonymous and they would not collect data on any snitches, the BBC reported. Cops said only “national security issues” should be reported.
Activists said the law resembled the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 70s in China, the Guardian reported. At the time, residents were encouraged to report their friends and relatives for any anti-government activities, sometimes leading to deadly consequences.
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