Digital Activism Under State Surveillance: The Role of Telegram and LIHKG during the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Movement

Abstract

This study analyzes digital activism under state surveillance, focusing on the role

of the encrypted digital platforms Telegram and LIHKG during the 2019 anti- extradition bill protests in Hong Kong amid state digital surveillance. The research

analyzes data obtained from Telegram, LIHKG forum discussion logs, and international news reports. The main findings demonstrate four key points. First,

there is a complementary functional dichotomy in which Telegram serves as a real- time tactical tool for on-the-ground mobilization, while LIHKG functions as an

anonymous deliberative space for formulating long-term strategies. Second, the platforms’ anonymity proved to be a double-edged sword; on one hand, it protected demonstrators’ identities, while on the other, it triggered an internal crisis of trust stemming from fears of state infiltration and the spread of disinformation. Third, Telegram successfully evolved beyond a communication tool into a decentralized humanitarian infrastructure ("network of care") that provided physical protection, logistics, and psychological support among demonstrators. Fourth, the narrative analysis reveals a sharp contrast between external institutional media, which predominantly framed the protests around physical violence, and the platforms’ internal communications, which focused on tactical safety and the movement’s operational survival. Ultimately, this study elaborates on the theory of Digital Activism alongside other supporting theories, namely affective publics, connective action, and networked social movements. It demonstrates that digital decentralization reconstructs a temporary (ad hoc) functional hierarchy in which coordination remains concentrated through highly curatorial roles.