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The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why Hong Kong used a national security law to ban this mobile game
Hong Kong has banned the mobile game Reversed Front: Bonfire under the national security law, alleging it promotes secessionism and armed revolution. The game, developed by ESCTaiwan, allows players to pledge allegiance to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Tibet, or Uyghurs to overthrow the Communist regime. Hong Kong police claim the game, was intended to promote "Taiwan independence' and 'Hong Kong independence", may lead to prosecution for those who download it. The game's website declares its similarity to actual agencies and policies of the People's Republic of China is intentional. Critics argue the ban exemplifies the erosion of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong under Chinese Communist Party control, destroying creative freedom in gaming.
Engadget
a day ago
- Politics
- Engadget
Hong Kong bans video game using national security laws
Hong Kong authorities have warned their residents against downloading a Taiwan-made game called Reversed Front: Bonfire , which they're accusing of advocating for armed revolution and promoting "secessionist agendas, such as 'Taiwan independence' and 'Hong Kong independence.'" As Bloomberg notes, this is the first time the special administrative region of China has invoked national security laws to ban a video game. The legislation, a national law from Beijing and a local security law passed in 2024, are supposed to address perceived threats and require internet service providers to comply with government mandate. Chinese authorities had previously ordered Google to block access to the protest song Glory to Hong Kong in the region. Reversed Front: Bonfire was developed by a group known as ESC Taiwan, who are outspoken critics of the China's Communist Party. The game disappeared from the Apple App Store in Hong Kong less than 24 hours after authorities issued the warning. Google already removed the game from the Play Store back in May, because players were using hate speech as part of their usernames. ESC Taiwan told The New York Times that that the game's removal shows that apps like theirs are subject to censorship in mainland China. The group also thanked authorities for the free publicity on Facebook, as the game experienced a surge in Google searches. The game uses anime-style illustrations and allows players to fight against China's Communist Party by taking on the role of "propagandists, patrons, spies or guerrillas" from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, Mongolia and Xinjiang, which is home to ethnic minorities like the Uyghur. That said, they can also choose to play as government soldiers. In its warning, Hong Kong Police said that anybody who shares or recommends the game on the internet may be committing several offenses, including "incitement to secession, "incitement to subversion" and "offenses in connection with seditious intention." Anybody who has downloaded the game will be considered in "possession of a publication that has a seditious intention," and anybody who provides financial assistance to it will be violating national security laws, as well. "Those who have downloaded the application should uninstall it immediately and must not attempt to defy the law," the authorities wrote. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Hong Kong bans Taiwan-made video game as China sees national security threat
Hong Kong has banned Taiwanese video game Reversed Front: Bonfire under China's national security law, the first such action against a video game. The authorities cited threats to state security as the game allows players to simulate overthrowing the Communist regime. read more In an unprecedented move, Hong Kong authorities have banned a Taiwanese-developed mobile video game, citing national security concerns under a sweeping law imposed by Beijing. This is the first time a video game has been outlawed in the city for allegedly promoting sedition. The mobile strategy game, Reversed Front: Bonfire, developed by ESC Taiwan, was removed from Google Play and Apple's App Store in Hong Kong after police ordered internet service providers to disable access to the game. The authorities warned that downloading, sharing, or possessing the game could be considered a criminal offence under the territory's national security law and may be prosecuted as possession of seditious material. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The game allows players to take sides in a virtual conflict, including the option to pledge allegiance to Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Tibet, with the goal of toppling the Chinese Communist regime. Alternatively, players can choose to defend the regime, portraying it as a high-stakes war simulation embedded with overt political themes. Following the ban, Reversed Front: Bonfire quickly became the most searched term on Google in Hong Kong, underscoring growing public curiosity amid rising censorship. While ESC Taiwan has not formally responded to the ban, it acknowledged the spike in visibility and welcomed the attention. The police have also issued a public advisory against providing financial support to the game developer, further deepening the geopolitical dimension of the controversy. The crackdown is part of China's broader campaign to curb dissent in Hong Kong, a drive that has escalated since the pro-democracy protests of 2019. The imposition of the national security law in 2020 gave authorities wide-ranging powers to suppress what they deem threats to the state, including digital and cultural content. The ban signals a new frontier in Beijing's enforcement of ideological conformity, extending its scrutiny to virtual platforms and gaming media. Critics say it reflects shrinking civic space in Hong Kong, once known for its open internet and creative freedom. As the city's digital landscape comes under tighter surveillance, the prohibition of Reversed Front: Bonfire raises alarms over the growing scope of China's censorship apparatus and the role of gaming in geopolitical narratives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Why is 'Reversed front: Bonfire' banned in Hong Kong?: Taiwanese app removes mobile game; calls it seditious
A phone shows the an app store page for the application Reversed Front Bonfire (AI) In a latest attempt to tighten its grip over Hong Kong, China has declared possession of a game about defeating communist regime called 'Reversed Front: Bonfire' as seditious under the national security laws. Police in a statement warned, those who download or share the mobile game app 'may be regarded as in possession of a publication that has a seditious intention" As described in the games website, players can 'pledge allegiance' to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Tibet or Uyghurs, among other options, to 'overthrow the communist regime'. It comes as the city continues to see increasing clamp down by Beijing, on dissent in wake of the 2019-pro democracy protest, ever since the imposition of drcaonian national security law following year. . A line on the app website states, the game is 'work of non-fiction,' adding any similarity to actual agencies, policies or ethnic groups of the PRC (Peoples Republic of China), in this game is intentional'. It also allows players to support revolutions joining hands with communists and fight enemies. Police have also warned people against providing any financial assistance to the application developers, ESC Taiwan, including making any in-app purchase. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo "'Reversed Front: Bonfire' was released under the guise of a game with the aim of promoting secessionist agendas such as 'Taiwan independence' and 'Hong Kong independence'," said the police statement. "Those who have downloaded the application should uninstall it immediately and must not attempt to defy the law." However, the warning may have unintentionally boosted the game's visibility, as it became the top Google search term among Hong Kong users on Wednesday. The developers seemed to welcome the publicity around the ban, posting that the game had effectively been "introduced to the entire Hong Kong" because of the controversy. Hong Kong, the city state though it is autonomous, is currently governed under one China principle.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Hong Kong Outlaws a Video Game for Promoting ‘Armed Revolution'
Hong Kong's national security police have a new target in their sights: gamers. In a stern warning issued Tuesday, they effectively banned a Taiwanese video game they described as 'advocating armed revolution,' saying anyone who downloaded or recommended it would face serious legal charges. The move comes as the authorities continue to tighten control over online content they consider a threat to the Chinese city. 'Reversed Front: Bonfire' is an online game of war strategy released by a Taiwanese group. Illustrated in a colorful manga style, players can choose the roles of 'propagandists, patrons, spies or guerrillas' from Taiwan, Mongolia and the Chinese territories of Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet in plots and simulated battles against China's ruling Communist Party. Alternatively, players can choose to represent government fighters. The game was removed from Apple's app store in Hong Kong on Wednesday, but remains available elsewhere. But it had already been out of reach for many gamers. It was never available in mainland China and earlier this month Google removed 'Reversed Front' from its app store, citing hateful language, according to the developers. ESC Taiwan is a group of anonymous volunteers who are outspoken against China's Communist Party. Their products, which include a board game released in 2020, are supported by crowdfunded donations. The developers said that the removal of the game demonstrated how mobile apps in Hong Kong are subject to the type of political censorship seen in mainland China. 'Our game is precisely accusing and revealing such intentions,' the group's representatives said in an email. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
