Date: 9 July 2021
Privacy Commissioner Meets with Internet Groups on
Proposed Amendments to the PDPO
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (Privacy Commissioner), Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, met with representatives of the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) today vide video conference to exchange views on the proposed amendments to the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance to combat doxxing (the Amendments).
At the meeting, the Privacy Commissioner reiterated that the Amendments only concern unlawful doxxing acts and the related enforcement powers of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD).
She noted that the AIC had clarified that its members remain committed to Hong Kong, and that representatives of the AIC reaffirmed at the meeting that doxxing is a matter of serious concern and that it is necessary to combat doxxing in order to protect personal data privacy.
In response to the online platforms’ concerns about the legal risks after the Amendments, Ada CHUNG said, “There was a good exchange of views with the representatives of the AIC at the meeting. I have explained the background and the scope of the Amendments to the representatives of the AIC and have pointed out that relevant anti-doxxing laws in other jurisdictions would be taken into account in the Amendments. The online platforms need not be overly concerned about the related legal risks.”
The Privacy Commissioner said that the PCPD will continue its dialogue with the AIC and all stakeholders and welcomes their views on the Amendments. The PCPD will meet with relevant stakeholders where necessary.