Hong Kong Bans Taiwanese Mobile Game for Promoting Armed Revolution

Hong Kong authorities have banned the Taiwanese mobile game "Reversed Front: Bonfire" under the city’s national security law, marking the first time the legislation has been used to target a video game. The game, which allows players to pledge allegiance to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Tibet, or Uyghurs and engage in simulated battles against the Chinese Communist Party, is accused by police of promoting armed revolution and secessionist agendas such as "Taiwan independence" and "Hong Kong independence." Police warned that downloading or sharing the game could lead to serious legal charges on grounds of possessing seditious material. The game was removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play in Hong Kong but remains available elsewhere, and its ban has ironically increased its visibility among Hong Kong residents. Authorities have also cautioned against funding the app developer ESC Taiwan. This move is part of Beijing's broader crackdown on dissent following the 2019 pro-democracy protests and reflects an intensified effort to control online content that challenges the Communist regime.