Talk:Wikimedian blocked globally for 'trolling' Hong Kong journalists
Review of revision 4797962 [Not ready]
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Revision 4797962 of this article has been reviewed by Gryllida (talk · contribs) and found not ready at 11:39, 15 September 2024 (UTC).
Comments by reviewer: The article is about a fresh event. The event is related to actions by WMF which makes them harder to establish relevance. The material is presented in confusing and unstructured way. Please see comments below. The following issues prevent the article from being published, and it is required to resolve them:
See also: WN:WMFNEWS. Please resolve the above issues. To request assistance, please click the "Ask" link below. Thanks. Questions about the above? Ask. If possible, please address the above issues then resubmit the article for another review (by replacing {{tasks}} in the article with {{review}}). This talk page will be updated with subsequent reviews. |
Revision 4797962 of this article has been reviewed by Gryllida (talk · contribs) and found not ready at 11:39, 15 September 2024 (UTC).
Comments by reviewer: The article is about a fresh event. The event is related to actions by WMF which makes them harder to establish relevance. The material is presented in confusing and unstructured way. Please see comments below. The following issues prevent the article from being published, and it is required to resolve them:
See also: WN:WMFNEWS. Please resolve the above issues. To request assistance, please click the "Ask" link below. Thanks. Questions about the above? Ask. If possible, please address the above issues then resubmit the article for another review (by replacing {{tasks}} in the article with {{review}}). This talk page will be updated with subsequent reviews. |
- @Gryllida: Grateful for your review. It seems this article should be divided into two: to address the allegations by the HKJA and to analysis the mastermind behind. This would be a significant expansion and improvement so it will take some time. I shall let you know when it is ready. Cheers. Cypp0847 (talk) 11:12, 16 September 2024 (UTC)
- Hi Cypp0847. It may be best to start short. Three paragraphs would suffice. At least two independent sources are required. And article cannot be one-sided, it needs to represent coverage from both sides of the conflict if possible. (If you bring someone constructive from an English Wikipedia's Hong Kong WikiProject to help you here, I'll give you a cookie.) Regards, Gryllida (talk) 12:08, 16 September 2024 (UTC)
English translation
editEnglish translation of the thewitnesshk article:
HKJA: At least 13 media outlets and dozens of journalists and their families subjected to "systematic" harassment; police report filed over incidents
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) held a press conference on Friday (13th) to report that their investigation found dozens of journalists and their families were harassed in various ways between June and August this year, including receiving anonymous threatening or complaint letters and being doxxed online. The affected individuals come from at least 13 media outlets and two journalism education institutions, including HKJA executive committee members.
Among them, 15 people's family members and employers received anonymous complaint letters claiming to be from "patriots"; 8 journalists' addresses, their landlords or neighbors received threatening or complaint letters; at least 36 journalists were "named" online, with some accused of publishing seditious articles; 3 people had their luggage searched by customs when entering Hong Kong recently, and 2 of them received anonymous threatening messages immediately after entry.
HKJA Chairperson Yeung Kai-yu described this as the largest known "systematic" harassment targeting Hong Kong journalists, seriously interfering with press freedom. There are also concerns about leakage of personal data held by the government being exploited by lawbreakers. The HKJA and some journalists have filed police reports and complained to the Privacy Commissioner's Office over the incidents.
13 media outlets affected
According to the HKJA's investigation, the harassment incidents against journalists occurred between June and August this year, with harassment becoming more frequent in mid to late August, affecting dozens of journalists from at least 13 international and local media outlets, as well as 2 journalism education institutions, including independent media, Hong Kong Free Press, Citizen News, etc. Some of those targeted are HKJA executive committee members.
Anonymous complaints sent to family members, landlords, etc. Some allege connections to journalists or national security threats
The HKJA counted at least 15 journalists whose family members, their organizations or employers, and partner organizations received anonymous complaint emails and letters claiming to be from "patriots" since June this year.
Yeung pointed out that the pattern of these complaint letters is similar, targeting the identity and institutional characteristics of the complainant to intimidate them. For example, some complaints are made anonymously under the guise of parents or readers, with some directly demanding the dismissal of journalists or their family members, or investigations into whether there were any violations; some also allege that associating with the relevant individuals may endanger national security and violate "Article 23".
Yeung said at least 8 journalists' addresses, their landlords, and even neighbors on the same floor received physical threatening or complaint letters; 3 other harassed individuals had their luggage searched by customs when entering Hong Kong recently, with two receiving anonymous WhatsApp threatening messages immediately after entry.
36 journalists "named" online Some contain violent and death threat images
Additionally, according to HKJA's tally, since August this year, Facebook users have been posting anti-media and anti-journalist content in various groups, such as accusing journalists' articles of inciting subversion. At least 36 journalists from different organizations were "named"; others published Facebook posts or modified Wikipedia content, including pictures of HKJA executive committee members and others. Some pictures contained knives, blood, shooting targets and the Chinese character for "offerings to the deceased", constituting violent and death threats.
Yeung Kai-yu pointed out that some pictures were repeatedly posted by certain users in different groups, and some journalists would receive threatening messages through other channels before and after the pictures were published; Yeung also said that most of the users posting these pictures became active starting from May this year, with profile pictures obtained from the internet or AI-generated images, describing the harassment tactics as coming from the same playbook.
Yeung said that after the HKJA provided evidence to Meta and Wikipedia, both companies have launched investigations. One Wikipedia user was found to have used multiple accounts to post journalists' personal information on Wikipedia entries, and that account has now been banned. She said the HKJA has preliminarily identified the person and has filed complaints with the police and the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data over the incidents.
Yeung: Most HKJA executive committee members harassed Organizations employing their family members received complaint letters
Yeung Kai-yu also pointed out that most HKJA executive committee members received harassing messages, including herself and her family members. Yeung revealed that organizations employing two of her family members received anonymous complaints, accusing them of "instilling anti-China and disruptive Hong Kong thoughts" and "moral corruption" in Yeung, demanding the organizations take it seriously, investigate and take action against her family members. Fortunately, the organizations ignored it.
Yeung criticized the email content as completely fabricated, while urging organizations receiving similar messages not to take actions that violate procedural justice or even the Employment Ordinance against their employees due to fabricated content.
Harassers obtained family member names, phone numbers, etc. HKJA concerned about government personal data leakage
The HKJA said there is currently no evidence showing the harassment incidents are related to officials, but since the relevant actions involve journalists' family member names, phone numbers, addresses and other information that cannot be easily and legally obtained, they also hope law enforcement can explain why some journalists received threatening messages shortly after entering Hong Kong, raising concerns about leakage of personal data held by the government being exploited by lawbreakers.
Yeung said the HKJA and some journalists have filed police reports over the harassment, as well as complaints with the Privacy Commissioner, hoping law enforcement will thoroughly investigate to protect press work from harassment and threats.
Yeung also said some harassed journalists are freelancers, and the criticized coverage includes general news topics such as Taiwan's election and Japan's seafood import ban. She does not believe the harassment is targeting specific organizations or coverage, but the journalist community as a whole. She called on media organizations to strengthen protection of employee work safety.
Cheuk-hay Yip: Didn't notice HKJA statement while in meeting Affected individuals can make police reports
Hong Kong Free Press and Hong Kong Independent Media each issued statements confirming their staff members were harassed. The HKFP statement revealed that the editor-in-chief's landlord and real estate agent received anonymous complaints last week containing defamatory allegations and threatening content. The editor-in-chief has filed a police report over the incident. HKIM also said one staff member received harassing messages involving personal information and has filed a police report over the incident.
Security Bureau Deputy Secretary Cheuk-hay Yip told reporters after a Fight Crime Committee meeting on Friday that since he was in the meeting, he had not noticed the HKJA statement. But he emphasized that Hong Kong is a society of rule of law, and no one should be subjected to threats, insults and harassment. Affected individuals can report to law enforcement. Cheuk-hay Yip also said he has not yet received any reports about government data leaks and is unclear why the HKJA made such an allegation. Kitabc12345 (talk) 07:59, 16 September 2024 (UTC)
- Furthermore, there was an English version of press release from HKJA [1] fyi. SCP-2000 (talk) 12:12, 16 September 2024 (UTC)
Chinese Wikimedian？
editFlamelai is a Hong Konger [2]. Akishima Yuka (talk) 09:12, 16 September 2024 (UTC)
Reporter's notes
editFew notes for the report:
- Global account log at Wikimedia Meta-Wiki can be found here
- Contribution log of
- Mtrstation at here, which shows edits on The Collective (at draft page) and on Ronson Chan (hidden now); and here on Bao Choy
- Yolander617 at here, which shows edits on a student activist
- Benson101992 at here, which shows edits on The Witness (hidden as well)
- Japanodanobunaga at here, which shows edits on Inmedia (hidden)
- Collect520 at here, also on Bao Choy
- Block of Flamelai on enwiki at here
- Block of Flamelai on zhwiki at here