Twitter, Meta layoffs spur political safeguard fears across Asia

Authoritarian regimes could strengthen grip on social media platforms

20221121 Twitter & Meta logos, mixed with HK protests

Since the 2019 pro-democracy protests, Twitter has played a vital role for the Hong Kong people to share information with the outside world. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)

GREGOR STUART HUNTER, Contributing writer, and PAK YIU, Nikkei staff writer

November 23, 2022 12:00 JST

TAIPEI/HONG KONG -- Layoffs announced by Twitter and Facebook's parent company, Meta, have sparked alarm among political activists, human rights advocates and digital media researchers across Asia, who warn that laxer social media safeguards could force dissidents offline.