Final Chapter of Apple Daily in Hong Kong! Supporters Utilize Decentralized Platform to Safeguard "Press Freedom"

"I'm not doing this because I like 'Apple Daily,' but because it's something that needs to be done," said the anonymous individual after uploading multiple articles from Hong Kong's Apple Daily to the decentralized storage platform Arweave.

The Final Chapter of Apple Daily in Hong Kong

On June 17, Hong Kong police's National Security Department raided the offices of Next Digital, the parent company of Apple Daily, and arrested five senior executives, including the chief editor, on suspicion of "colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security." The authorities also froze assets related to the company. Security Secretary Chris Tang stated that Apple Daily had used journalism as a tool to endanger national security, distinguishing it from ordinary news organizations, and urged the public not to associate with it. Under the National Security Law, the Hong Kong government has the power to censor or remove content it deems subversive or separatist.

Facing financial difficulties and concerns for the safety of its staff, Apple Daily in Hong Kong announced its closure. This incident has drawn international attention, raising concerns about the freedom and openness of Hong Kong.

Concerns About the Firewall and Developers Seeking Decentralized Storage

According to a report by CNBC, the website HKChronicles, which provides information supporting anti-government protests, is no longer accessible to Hong Kong residents. Concerned that the firewall will further restrict freedom of speech, an anonymous tech industry professional continues to upload Apple Daily articles to the decentralized storage network Arweave.

It is reported that over 4,000 Apple Daily articles from Hong Kong have been stored on Arweave to date.

The anonymous individual stated, "I never thought Apple Daily would disappear so quickly."

Hong Kong Developers Assist in Information Integrity and Traceability

LikeCoin founder and Hong Kong developer Kin Ko stated, "History should not be determined by those in power."

He records the International Standard Content Number (ISCN) on a blockchain platform, allowing internet users to identify the uniqueness of digital content metadata, such as creators, dates, times, locations, and versions. Therefore, any changes to the content can be traced through these digital fingerprints.

LikeCoin is also well-known in Taiwan, often used for content tipping features on platforms like Medium. The project leverages blockchain for traceability and copyright management of digital content, unexpectedly playing a role in Hong Kong's social issues.