Hong Kong to criminalise doxxing acts 

This is to protect against actions that are intrusive to personal data privacy. 

The Hong Kong government is pushing for a measure that will criminalise doxxing acts to protect individuals against actions that are intrusive to personal data privacy. 

Data from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) showed some 5,800 doxxing—defined as maliciously searching for and publishing private information about an individual on the internet—complaints filed between June 2019 and June 2021. 

“The public has strongly asked the government to criminalise doxxing acts and step up enforcement with a view to eradicating doxxing,” a government spokesman said. 

He added that Courts have pointed out that the distant use of the Internet to perform doxxing acts has far-reaching consequences, causing real nuisance, real harassment, and real anxiety to the victims. It is also expected to create a chilling effect in society and discourage the open expression of views for fear of falling victim to doxxing. 

“There is an imminent need for the Government to specifically legislate against doxxing acts so as to protect the personal data privacy of the general public,” the spokesman said. 

The bill will also confer on the statutory power of the PCPD to issue cessation notices or restriction of disclosure of doxxing content. 

It also conferred on the PCPD’s power to conduct criminal investigations and institute prosecution for doxxing cases. 

The bill is set to be introduced on the first and second reading on 21 July.