OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Hong Kong restrict access to AI chatbots: Report

Tech giants OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google have limited access to their AI chatbots in Hong Kong, which has faced heavy crackdown and censorship by China’s government. The companies have not provided a formal explanation, but experts suggest that they are allowing the Chinese government semi-autonomous censorship of content and suppression of dissent. The move is possibly due to concerns about violating Hong Kong’s widely criticised national security law. The companies declined to comment on the restrictions, but said they were working to bring their services to new locations in the future. The growing crackdown on free speech in Hong Kong came in full force last week when authorities attempted to block online platforms from hosting a popular protest song titled Glory to Hong Kong. The Chinese government has a long history of censoring online discussion and the use of unapproved social media platforms.