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Response to Media Enquiry or Report

Response to Media Enquiry or Report

Date: 18 August 2016

Privacy Commissioner Responses to Media Enquiry on the Tips on Protecting Your Own Personal Data When Using Webcams


Thank you very much for your email enquiry regarding tips on protecting your own personal data when using webcams. Our responses are as follows:

Please refer to the information below (as also stated on our media statement dated 16 August) for your reference: 

The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (the “Privacy Commissioner”), Mr Stephen Kai-yi WONG, would like to remind users of Internet-connected devices (e.g. webcams) to stay smart as “data protection is in your hands”, and provides the following general tips on protecting their own personal data:

· Select Internet-connected devices that support the following features: i) use SSL encryption when viewing images via the Internet; ii) allow users to change and apply complex password (such as allowing alphanumeric passwords);

· Always change username (if supported) and password to a complex password when installing any Internet-connected devices;

· Apply the latest firmware of Internet-connected devices when available; and

· Review security and privacy settings and adjust them if appropriate.  

For your information, the Privacy Commissioner issued the “Guidance on CCTV Surveillance and Use of Drones” which offers advice  to data users (both organisational and individual data users) on determining whether CCTV should be used in given circumstances and how to use CCTV responsibly. The “Guidance on Use of Personal Data Obtained from the Public Domain” was also issued to assist data users to comply with the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (the “Ordinance”) when collecting and using personal data from the public domain. Members of the public can visit our website (www.PCPD.org.hk) to get more practical tips on protecting personal data.