Date: 9 January 2024
Response of the Privacy Commissioner’s Office
on the Social Welfare Department’s Data Breach Incident
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) received a data breach notification from the Social Welfare Department on 4 January, reporting that about 1,300 data subjects had been affected. The PCPD noted that the relevant department had already notified all affected data subjects, and the PCPD has commenced a compliance check into the incident in accordance with established procedures.
Having considered that the incident involved the leakage of personal data, the PCPD appeals to the affected persons to make enquiries or complaints with the PCPD or the relevant department if they suspect that their personal data have been leaked. As of today (9 January), the PCPD has not received any enquiries or complaints regarding the incident.
The PCPD calls on the affected persons to be vigilant about potential theft of their personal data and to take the following measures to protect personal data privacy:
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Stay vigilant when they receive any suspicious calls, text messages or emails from unknown sources;
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Do not open text message or email attachments or disclose personal data arbitrarily; and
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Be vigilant against phishing or other possible scams.
－End－