Advertisement
Hong Kongers scramble for VPNs as Beijing plans national security law
But VPN isn’t a fool-proof privacy shield for internet users
Reading Time:1 minute
Why you can trust SCMP
This article originally appeared on ABACUS
More people in Hong Kong are downloading VPNs (virtual private networks) after China’s central authorities announced a plan to bypass the local legislature and draw up its own national security law for the city last week.
Advertisement
Atlas VPN says installations of the cyber tool surged by more than six-fold on Thursday, when Beijing revealed its proposal. Installations continued to rise by three-fold the next day, adding up to a 150-time increase in just seven days by Sunday. NordVPN, another provider, also reported a sudden jump in inquiries about its services late last week. Google searches for the keyword “VPN” has skyrocketed over the past few days, according to Google Trends.
New users appear to be driven by concerns about the potential increase in online surveillance and restrictions under the proposed law. A VPN allows users to mask the origin of their internet traffic, making it harder for criminals or governments to eavesdrop on their browsing activity. But it isn’t foolproof. Your VPN provider itself still has full access to everything you do online, and some services say they do route personal data to servers in China. Plus, if you’ve already provided personal information to any app or site, it’ll know who you are and what you’re doing in there whenever you log in.
Advertisement