Latest news with #ReversedFront:Bonfire
Epoch Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Hong Kong Police Warn ‘Seditious' Taiwan Game May Breach Security Law
A Taiwanese mobile phone game that allows users to play the role of groups opposing the ruling communist regime in China may flout Hong Kong's draconian security laws, the city's police warned on June 10. The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force said in a downloading the game 'Reversed Front: Bonfire' on a mobile platform may constitute a violation of the city's national security laws.
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
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
HK bans 'seditious' mobile game about fighting communists
SINGAPORE — Hong Kong residents found downloading or sharing a mobile game app about defeating the communist regime may be punished under national security laws, police have said. According to the website for Reversed Front: Bonfire, players can "pledge allegiance" to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Tibet or Uyghurs, among other options, "to overthrow the Communist regime". In a statement on Tuesday, police warned that those who download the game "may be regarded as in possession of a publication that has a seditious intention". It comes as Beijing has tightened grip over the city and has been seen as increasingly cracking down on dissent in the wake of the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In a line on the game's website, it stated that it was a "work of non-fiction", adding that "any similarity to actual agencies, policies or ethnic groups of the PRC in this game is intentional". The game also allows for users to play as communists to fight enemies and support the communist have also warned people against providing funding to the app developer, ESC Taiwan."'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."As of Wednesday, the game - which was launched in April - is no longer accessible on Google Play or Apple's App Store from Hong the warning might have inadvertently brought more attention to the game, which on Wednesday was the most popular search term on Google among Hong Kong game's creators have appeared to embrace the news surrounding its ban in the city, writing in a post that the game had been "introduced to the entire Hong Kong" as a 2020, China imposed a national security law (NSL) on Hong Kong that critics say effectively outlawed dissent - but Beijing maintains is crucial for maintaining law - which criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces - came in response to massive pro-democracy protests that broke out in Hong Kong in mogul Jimmy Lai and activist Joshua Wong are among the pro-democracy figures that have been charged or jailed under the Kong is governed under the principle of "one country, two systems", under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the critics say the implementation of the NSL has breached the "one country, two systems" principle, though Beijing and Hong Kong have argued the NSL ensures the "resolute, full and faithful implementation" of "one country, two systems". — BBC
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
HK bans 'seditious' mobile game about fighting communists
SINGAPORE — Hong Kong residents found downloading or sharing a mobile game app about defeating the communist regime may be punished under national security laws, police have said. According to the website for Reversed Front: Bonfire, players can "pledge allegiance" to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Tibet or Uyghurs, among other options, "to overthrow the Communist regime". In a statement on Tuesday, police warned that those who download the game "may be regarded as in possession of a publication that has a seditious intention". It comes as Beijing has tightened grip over the city and has been seen as increasingly cracking down on dissent in the wake of the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In a line on the game's website, it stated that it was a "work of non-fiction", adding that "any similarity to actual agencies, policies or ethnic groups of the PRC in this game is intentional". The game also allows for users to play as communists to fight enemies and support the communist have also warned people against providing funding to the app developer, ESC Taiwan."'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."As of Wednesday, the game - which was launched in April - is no longer accessible on Google Play or Apple's App Store from Hong the warning might have inadvertently brought more attention to the game, which on Wednesday was the most popular search term on Google among Hong Kong game's creators have appeared to embrace the news surrounding its ban in the city, writing in a post that the game had been "introduced to the entire Hong Kong" as a 2020, China imposed a national security law (NSL) on Hong Kong that critics say effectively outlawed dissent - but Beijing maintains is crucial for maintaining law - which criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces - came in response to massive pro-democracy protests that broke out in Hong Kong in mogul Jimmy Lai and activist Joshua Wong are among the pro-democracy figures that have been charged or jailed under the Kong is governed under the principle of "one country, two systems", under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the critics say the implementation of the NSL has breached the "one country, two systems" principle, though Beijing and Hong Kong have argued the NSL ensures the "resolute, full and faithful implementation" of "one country, two systems". — BBC
