Media Statements

Mobile App Development Forum Promotes Cyber Security and
“Protect, Respect Personal Data” Culture among Industry

 
 (21 April 2016) The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (“PCPD”) today held the “Mobile App Development Forum on Privacy and Security” to explore how to develop mobile apps with data protection in mind and manage security risks. The Forum attracted over 200 attendants, and served as a concluding event for the PCPD’s “Privacy Campaign for Mobile App Development” (the “Campaign”).  
 
Presenting his welcome speech to a full house at the Forum, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Mr Stephen Kai-yi WONG remarked, “In this Big Data era, personal data collected can generate massive business opportunities after being consolidated and processed. Progress in information technology and globalisation has profoundly changed the ways individuals’ data are collected, retained and used. Information security issues have hence become serious concerns, as they may lead to unprecedented challenges to personal data privacy protection. Our recent survey findings revealed inadequate transparency in privacy policy for local mobile apps. Enforcement actions were also taken in 2014 on mobile apps due to excessive collection of personal data and security flaws. There is little dispute that there is room for improvements in the related industry.”
 
Mr Wong continued, “Respecting app users’ personal data and using them in a proper way would create trust and business reputation. Mobile app developers should keep their app users informed of their opt-out right and that they have control over their personal data, especially among members of the young generation. Although the Campaign has come to the end today, I believe mobile app developers will continue to adopt the ‘Privacy by Design’ approach when they proceed to develop mobile apps with a view to protecting and respecting individuals’ personal data.”
 
The Forum featured presentations by the professionals of the mobile apps development industry, the academia and representatives of the PCPD, as well as an interactive panel discussion. Various privacy issues related to mobile apps development were addressed, such as secured and privacy-friendly approaches, application of Privacy by Design and the related privacy policies. Practical tips and cases were also shared during the events.
 
Since 2007, the PCPD has organised a series of Industry-specific Privacy Campaigns.  The “Privacy Campaign for Mobile App Development” with the theme “Developing Mobile
Apps: Privacy Matters” stated in January 2015 to help mobile apps developers understand and comply with their legal obligations under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (the “Ordinance”).  The Campaign was co-organised by ten leading trade associations and supported by ten professional/ academic institutions in the field of information and communications technology. Representatives from the co-organisers and the PCPD formed a working group to canvass the privacy concerns among the practitioners. The PCPD organised 14 seminars and activities during the Campaign, attracting over 2,500 participants. In response to the suggestion raised by the working group, the PCPD has developed the Online Training Platform to provide a convenient channel for those practitioners who wish to go through the requirements of the Ordinance online.
 
To learn more about the “Mobile App Development Forum on Privacy and Security”, please visit: www.pcpd.org.hk/mobileapps/activities21042016.php　
More information about the “Privacy Campaign for Mobile App Development”, please visit: www.pcpd.org.hk/mobileapps/index.html