Beijing has tightened its grip on Hong Kong in recent years, dimming hopes that the financial center will ever become a full democracy.

This week: France wants to be a norm entrepreneur in cyberspace, Facebook works with French regulators, U.S. law enforcement want Alexa data, and cybercrime at the United Nations. 

Oversight by the United States and South Korea may open them up to an undesirable reliance on China for older semiconductors that remain critical to the global economy.

The region is accustomed to cycles of protest and political upheaval, so it’s better not to bank on successful revolutions.