Instagram Reportedly Blocked In China Amid Hong Kong Protests

Instagram Reportedly Blocked In China Amid Hong Kong Protests
Riot policemen stand guard against protesters after young pro-democracy activists forced their way into Hong Kong government headquarters during a demonstration in Hong Kong, early Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. The scenes of disorder came at the end of a weeklong strike by students demanding Chinaâs communist leaders allow residents to directly elect a leader of their own choosing in 2017. (AP Photo/Apple Daily) HONG KONG OUT, TAIWAN OUT
Riot policemen stand guard against protesters after young pro-democracy activists forced their way into Hong Kong government headquarters during a demonstration in Hong Kong, early Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. The scenes of disorder came at the end of a weeklong strike by students demanding Chinaâs communist leaders allow residents to directly elect a leader of their own choosing in 2017. (AP Photo/Apple Daily) HONG KONG OUT, TAIWAN OUT

By Ryan Vlastelica

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service owned by Facebook Inc, has been blocked in China, according to numerous reports, including from Hong Kong-based reporters with the New York Times.

The company did not immediately return requests for confirmation.

The reports came amid pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, where many have posted photos and videos, including of Hong Kong police firing tear gas at demonstrators.

Many of the photos were labeled with the hash tag "Occupy Central," a phrase that was blocked on Sunday on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. It had been allowed earlier in the day.

The website www.blockedinchina.net also indicated that Instagram was blocked across China, including in Beijing and Shenzhen.

If the site was blocked in China, that would not prevent users in Hong Kong from posting on social media, nor users in other countries viewing the images.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)

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