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Hong Kong's amended National Security Law now grants police warrantless authority to demand passwords and decryption methods for any encrypted device.
•Effective March 23, 2026, refusal to unlock a device carries up to 1 year in jail and a HK$100,000 fine; providing false credentials results in 3 years imprisonment.
•The powers extend beyond device owners to anyone with access credentials, including spouses, business partners, and IT administrators.
•Coverage spans smartphones, laptops, and enterprise encryption keys, making digital privacy contingent on government approval.
•VPNs and encrypted messaging apps like Signal now carry potential criminal liability if deemed a national security threat.
•Chief Executive John Lee implemented the changes without Legislative Council oversight or judicial authorization requirements.
This summary was automatically generated by AI based on the original article and may not be fully accurate.