Key facts
- Hong Kong national security police arrested Boom News founder Tang Ho-wing.
- Tang is suspected of incitement by spreading disinformation.
- Tang, 37, was arrested on Wednesday.
- Five members of Boom News were arrested.
Hong Kong national security police arrested Tang Ho-wing, the 37-year-old founder of the online media outlet Boom News, on suspicion of "incitement by spreading disinformation." Tang, also known by internet users as “Boom head” or Bobby, was apprehended around 7 a.m. on Wednesday. According to reports, five members of Boom News have been arrested. Tang previously worked as a journalist for the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s student newspaper and has developed his own web-based and social media platforms under the Boom News brand since 2020. The arrests occur amid a broader focus by authorities on online content and smaller news outlets operating across social platforms.