Hong Kong plans tougher penalties to combat ‘doxxing’
Out-Law News | 20 May 2021 | 9:33 am |
3 min. read
Hong Kong-based staff of online platforms could face fines or imprisonment if ‘doxxing’ data is not removed from those platforms fast enough under new legislative proposals under consideration in the city.
‘Doxxing’ refers to the malicious practice of making someone’s personal information available so that the person can be more easily targeted by others.
Though data protection law in Hong Kong, specifically section 64 of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO), prohibits the disclosure of personal data without the data user's consent, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (the Bureau) has said the existing law “was not intended to address the doxxing acts committed in recent years” and that it should therefore be updated. It said doxxing acts “are intrusive to personal data privacy and in effect weaponise personal data” and “have caused great harm to the victims in the society in recent years”. The Bureau outlined proposed amendments to the PDPO which were considered by Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs on Monday.