Hong Kong Election Arrests, Hong Kong Weaponizes AI, Burma Sham Elections, and more.

HRF condemns the arrest of 11 Hong Kongers — three now prosecuted — for allegedly encouraging election boycotts. HRF calls for their immediate release and for an end to the criminalization of peaceful political expression to ensure elections are free from coercion.

The arrests occurred during a tightly controlled Legislative Council election in which only Beijing-approved “patriots” could stand. Only 20 of 90 Legislative Council seats are directly elected, with virtually no legitimate political competition. (The Guardian)

The election unfolded amid widespread public anger following the Tai Po fire, which killed at least 159 people and fueled widespread demands for accountability. Public grief was met with sweeping crackdown, including arrests for those questioning how authorities handled the tragedy. (NPR)

The arrests illustrate how since the passing of the National Security Law, Hong Kong’s elections have become an instrument of authoritarian legitimacy, as public calls for accountability over systemic failures are treated as national security threats.

HRF strongly condemns the CCP’s recent harassment campaign targeting exiled Hong Kong activist @carmenkamanlau. We urge the UK government to fully investigate and urgently prioritize Lau’s safety.

Lau, an HRF Freedom Fellow and @hkdc_us Senior International Advocacy Associate, continues to face transnational repression. Recent reports revealed that her former neighbors in London received letters containing AI-generated sexualized deepfake images posted from Macau. (BBC)

This is the first known instance of Hong Kong activists being targeted and intimidated with sexually explicit material. AI enhances transnational repression tactics and has a chilling effect on advocacy, while disproportionately targeting women. (The Guardian)

Carmen Lau shared her personal story and the ongoing struggle for freedom in Hong Kong at the 2025 @osloff.

HRF strongly condemns the Burmese junta for targeting 10 activists who protested against the upcoming sham election. The junta is reportedly seeking to persecute them under laws designed to silence dissent.

According to the junta, these 10 activists are being pursued for “shouting and scattering leaflets opposing the elections” in Mandalay, Burma’s second-largest city. The junta said it would arrest them and take further action. (Straits Times)

Although it has announced that elections will start on Dec. 28, the military continues to suppress all opposition and ban any criticism of the vote. In July, the junta passed an election law that imposes prison terms of up to 10 years for group protests.

Since seizing power in a 2021 coup, the junta has cracked down on dissidents, killing thousands and arbitrarily arresting over 30,000 people.

To learn more about military rule in Burma and the country’s ongoing struggle for democracy, watch former @OsloFF speaker @MissWHPT.