YouTube, owned by Alphabet, announced on Tuesday that it will comply with a Hong Kong court ruling to block access to 32 video links identified as prohibited content. This decision came after the Court of Appeal in Hong Kong approved a government request to ban a protest song named "Glory to Hong Kong." YouTube expressed disappointment with the court order, stating that it could lead to doubt regarding the Hong Kong government's efforts to support the digital economy and restore its reputation as a stable business environment.
The company confirmed its adherence to the removal order while mentioning the possibility of exploring avenues for an appeal to uphold information access. A YouTube spokes person, representing the Mountain View-based company, disclosed that the geo blocking of the videos would be implemented immediately for viewers in Hong Kong.
The content was classified as "prohibited publications" following an injunction. As YouTube's systems adjust to the changes, the affected video links will gradually disappear from Google Search results in Hong Kong. The company acknowledged concerns raised by human rights organizations about the potential impact of the content ban on online freedom of expression.