Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google and Telegram have all said they are “pausing” co-operation with requests for user information from the Hong Kong police.
Several countries have criticised China for imposing a new security law, which they say threatens the territory’s long-standing autonomy.
However, Facebook, Google and Twitter do generate revenue from selling advertising to Chinese clients.
Microsoft – which has also previously handed over data about its users to Hong Kong’s authorities, and maintains a significant presence in mainland China – has not announced a change in policy either.
Chat app Telegram – headquartered in London – was first to announce plans to halt co-operation.
“We understand the right of privacy of our Hong Kong users,” the firm told the Hong Kong Free Press on Sunday.
“Accordingly, Telegram does not intend to process any data requests related to its Hong Kong users until an international consensus is reached in relation to the ongoing political changes in the city.”
Facebook followed saying it would stop considering the requests, “pending further assessment” of the human rights issues.
No personal information about users in the region was held at, or disclosed from, its Hong Kong office, it added.
“We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions,” Facebook said.
WhatsApp – which is owned by Facebook – said it “believes in the right for people to have a private conversation online” and “we remain committed to providing private and secure messaging services to our users in Hong Kong”.
Both platforms are blocked in mainland China but have benefited from Hong Kong’s much broader access to the internet under its freedoms as a special administrative region.
Google said it paused production on any new data requests when the new rules came into effect last week.