3 / 24
3
PCPD News
私隱專員公署通訊
•
Issue no. 32
The PCPD conducted an assessment
o f 45 l oca l webs i t e s and mob i l e
applications (“apps”) targeting at
children this year. The results show
that some websites and mobile apps
contain good privacy practice while
others are not satisfactory.
This year's study was part of the Global
Privacy Enforcement Network ("GPEN")
Sweep exercise that took place in
May this year. The PCPD joined forces
with 28 other privacy enforcement
a u t ho r i t i e s a r ound t h e g l ob e t o
examine the privacy protection of 1,494
websites and mobile apps targeting at
children.
The Study Findings
The following findings are worthy of
mention in the case of Hong Kong:
a. 36% of websites were found to ask
for children's Hong Kong Identity
Card Numbers;
b. 49% of websites were found to
have indicated in their privacy
policies that they might share the
collected personal data with third
parties.
When comparing with the results of
the global examination, the following
figures from the local study are also
notable:
a. 2 7 w e b s i t e s ( 6 0 % ) s o u g h t
information on children's home
addresses while 33 websites (73%)
collected their phone numbers.
These figures are much higher than
those global figures of 19% and
22% respectively;
b. 1 6 w e b s i t e s ( 3 6 % ) s o u g h t
i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m c h i l d r e n
concerning third parties (parents
and friends). Again this figure is
higher than the global figure of
18%;
c. Only two websites (4%) provided
accessible means for a child to
delete his account, which is much
lower than the global figure of
29%.
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal
Data, Mr Stephen WONG, stressed at
the press conference, "Collection of
third party's personal data from young
children may in some circumstances
amount to unfair collection contrary
to Data Protection Principle 1(2)(b) of
Schedule 1, Personal Data (Privacy)
Ordinance, Cap 486 Laws of Hong
Kong."
Mr Wong added, “On respecting the
personal data privacy of others, parents
and teachers should set an example by
consulting their friends or third parties
before sharing their personal data. In
terms of sharing children's information
(such as photographs, examination
results and participation in sporting
events), parents and teachers should
invariably take into account the interest
of the children, including any harm and
potential embarrassment in the future.
However, as children's expectations on
privacy and ability to make decisions
may vary depending on individual
maturity and intellectual development,
parents and teachers are encouraged
to discuss with them frequently and
frankly on their online practices.”
The full report is available at
www.
pcpd.org.hk/english/resources_centre/
publications/surveys/files/sweep2015_
e.pdf