麻豆约拍

The fight over democracy in Hong Kong continues. In the week that pro-democracy lawmakers resigned en masse in protest at the sacking of four of their colleagues, we take a look at the secretive struggles happening online.

Trade union leader Carol Ng was shocked to find her phone number and photo on a mysterious website 鈥� HK Leaks 鈥� which lists names and personal details of some 1,800 activists.

Who is behind the site? It appears to be hosted in Russia, but many believe it鈥檚 a smear campaign driven by the Chinese authorities.

Also featured on the site is Nathan Law, one of Hong Kong鈥檚 youngest-ever lawmakers. He fled to the UK in the wake of a new security law.

We meet him in London, where he tells us about 鈥済overnment backed鈥� attempts to hack his online accounts, and also about his unique relationship with California鈥檚 social media giants.

Big tech appears to be standing shoulder to shoulder with the activists, and protecting them from government intrusion online 鈥� but that doesn鈥檛 mean the companies want to say much about it.

Facebook, Google and others have previously tried to court the Chinese government, in hopes of gaining access to an enormous new market. So this time around, are the firms acting out of nobility 鈥� or are there more strategic forces at play?

Presenter: Sam Judah

(Photo: Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law. Credit: Getty Images)