CPJ condemns guilty verdict in Jimmy Lai’s fraud case in Hong Kong
Taipei, October 25, 2022 – In response to news reports that a court in Hong Kong on Tuesday convicted Jimmy Lai, founder of the Next Digital Limited media company and the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, of fraud, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the verdict: “Today’s conviction of Jimmy Lai on…
Special report: When spyware turns phones into weapons
How zero-click surveillance threatens reporters, sources, and global press freedom By Fred Guterl Published October 13, 2022 Aida Alami has always been wary of surveillance. As a journalist from Morocco, a state with a track record of intercepting phone calls and messages of political rivals, activists, and journalists, she habitually took precautions to protect her…
Hong Kong internet radio host Edmund Wan Yiu-sing sentenced to 32 months in prison
Taipei, October 7, 2022 – In response to news reports that a court in Hong Kong on Friday sentenced radio journalist Edmund Wan Yiu-sing to 32 months in prison for sedition and money laundering, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement expressing condemnation: “Today’s sentencing of radio host Edmund Wan Yiu-sing to 32…
Hong Kong authorities arrest journalists’ association head Ronson Chan
Taipei, September 7, 2022–Hong Kong authorities should immediately release Ronson Chan, cease harassing members of the press, and ensure that journalists’ trade groups can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On the morning of Wednesday, September 7, Hong Kong police arrested Chan, a reporter for the independent online news outlet Channel C…
Hong Kong judge upholds police request to search Jimmy Lai’s phones
Taipei, September 1, 2022–Hong Kong authorities should drop their efforts to search the cellphones of media owner Jimmy Lai, which would violate basic tenets of press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, August 30, a High Court judge ruled that police could search two phones with journalistic information owned by Lai,…
Chinese journalist Mao Huibin arrested after publishing articles about Tangshan assault
Taipei, August 15, 2022 — Chinese authorities should immediately release and drop all charges against journalist Mao Huibin and allow the press to report on social issues freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. At 10 a.m. on August 9, police arrested Mao at his home in the city of Hengshui, according to the…
Chinese reporter Zhang Weihan recounts police harassment, detention in Tangshan
Taipei, June 21, 2022 – Chinese authorities should thoroughly investigate the alleged police attack on journalist Zhang Weihan and ensure that the press can work freely and without fear of harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Zhang said in a video that on June 12, police in the northeastern city of Tangshan detained…
Hong Kong restricts access to chief executive inauguration and handover anniversary events
Taipei, June 16, 2022 — Hong Kong authorities should allow media outlets to freely cover the inauguration of Chief Executive-elect John Lee and the 25th anniversary of the territory’s handover to China, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On the evening of Thursday, June 16, applications closed for media outlets to seek access to…
Hong Kong journalist Eric Wu Ka-Fai sentenced to 1 month in prison for disorderly behavior
Taipei, May 23, 2022—Hong Kong authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Eric Wu Ka-Fai, a reporter for independent news site HK Golden, and stop jailing members of the press for reporting the news, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Monday, May 23, Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court sentenced Wu to one month in…
How China is stepping up harassment of foreign correspondents
When international journalists rushed to Zhengzhou city in Henan province to cover a deadly flood in July 2021, they were confronted by angry bystanders who accused them of “spreading rumors” and “smearing China.” Many also received harassing messages on social media and intimidating calls, according to the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China. This hostility spread after the Henan Communist Youth…