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The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

The latest news and top stories on The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. A prominent Hong Kong-based independent statutory body, the PCPD is dedicated to securing individual privacy regarding personal data. Established in 1996, its primary mission involves overseeing and enforcing the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Key activities include promoting public awareness, providing guidance on data protection, investigating complaints and enforcing compliance. The PCPD plays a vital role in safeguarding personal data privacy, addressing issues like doxxing and artificial intelligence, and fostering responsible data use across public and private sectors.

Chief Executive John Lee inspects the Drainage Services Department’s Emergency Control Centre in September last year. Photo: Handout

John Lee policy address 2026

Hong Kong’s ‘AI city brain’ to cost initial HK$200m, but ‘won’t catch thieves’

John Lee and Eric Chan stress new system will consolidate data to improve city management and won’t be used for crime detection or surveillance.

18 Sep 2026 - 4:32PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Suspected cyberattack puts data of 33,054 customers of group-buying app at risk

1 Sep 2026 - 9:27PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong privacy watchdog arrests boxer for allegedly doxxing opponent

27 Aug 2026 - 4:25PM

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

3 helpers sacked, issued warnings over use of employer data to secure loans

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog highlights three cases and says helpers’ actions led to their employers being harassed by debt collectors.

25 Aug 2026 - 4:38PM

A watchdog has urged domestic workers to obtain their employers’ explicit consent before using their personal data and to avoid recklessly disclosing information to financial institutions to obtain loans. Photo: Getty Images

Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chun says that each of the cases involved names, phone numbers and addresses originally obtained solely for employment purposes. Photo: Leopold Chen

Two of the cases saw helpers disclose their employers’ personal information to several financial institutions without consent to apply for loans. Photo: Getty Images

Education in Hong Kong

Over 153,000 students, staff affected in Canvas data breach: privacy watchdog

Investigation by Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data finds 96 per cent of those affected in May cyberattack were from City University.

20 Aug 2026 - 7:40PM

Hong Kong society

Extreme caution urged as data privacy complaints jump 62% in AI era

Commissioner urges public to be careful about sharing personal data during online shopping and membership sign-ups, saying such details are marketable.

15 Aug 2026 - 8:44PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Baptist University reviews IT security after ransomware group claims breach

Cybercrime group ‘The Gentlemen’ made allegation; cybersecurity monitoring platforms say about 1,900 credentials may have been compromised.

11 Aug 2026 - 11:51PM

Baptist University says it is closely reviewing the security of its systems and personal data. Photo: Nora Tam

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data says it has not received any official breach notification from the university. Photo: Jelly Tse

Crime in Hong Kong

Man arrested over doxxing 2 former associates in failed restaurant business

Wholesale food supplier posted personal details of restaurant owner and consultant after dealings turned sour, Hong Kong watchdog says.

11 Aug 2026 - 7:41PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong warns of scam sites posing as Canada, UK and Thailand e-visa portals

Privacy watchdog says fake sites often use URLs with spelling mistakes, extra letters or numbers.

4 Aug 2026 - 7:27PM

Hong Kong society

Dashcam row allegedly involving singer David Lui could be referred to police

Watchdog receives complaint over viral dashcam video, warns resharing without consent may breach anti-doxxing law.

13 Jul 2026 - 7:05PM

The video allegedly showing David Lui has drawn widespread attention on social media platform Threads. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong watchdog orders removal of viral video allegedly showing singer David Lui

Privacy commissioner has instructed social media platform to remove clip of heated dispute inside ride-hailing vehicle.

10 Jul 2026 - 8:29PM

David Lui Fong. The singer was named in a viral video of a spat inside a ridehailing car. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong society

Fine firms for data breaches, Hong Kong cybersecurity experts urge

Call comes after personal information of more than 1 million people linked to leading appliance distributor was maliciously encrypted.

3 Jul 2026 - 8:57PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Cyberattack on Hong Kong’s Shun Hing Group affects data of 1 million people

Personal information of more than 920,000 customers, including their names, addresses and email addresses, involved in breach.

3 Jul 2026 - 1:21AM

Hong Kong society

Data leak fears after ransomware attack hits Hong Kong’s Kee Wah Bakery

Privacy watchdog seeks details to assess risks as the company alerts staff, customers and suppliers.

17 Jun 2026 - 5:49PM

Kee Wah Bakery in Causeway Bay. Photo: Google

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong watchdog launches data privacy academy to develop top talent in sector

City’s privacy commissioner says move aligns with national plan to develop Hong Kong into global talent hub while addressing new AI challenges.

16 Jun 2026 - 7:22PM

(From left) Undersecretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Clement Woo; Liu Chunhua, director general of legal affairs of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong; justice minister Paul Lam; Li Yongsheng, deputy commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry's office in Hong Kong; and privacy chief Ada Chung. May Tse

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong privacy watchdog warns of fake retailer compensation call scam

Customers duped by fraudsters posing as Built-in Pro staff using personal data, with one victim losing HK$17,000.

21 May 2026 - 11:08PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong privacy watchdog slams Canvas owner for paying ransom to hackers

Privacy commissioner says Instructure’s payment is a mishandling of crime and firm should invest in boosting cybersecurity instead.

15 May 2026 - 6:10PM

Education in Hong Kong

Canvas reaches deal with hackers to return data, including Hong Kong users

Parent company Instructure says hackers returned and destroyed data of thousands of users after deal, with no extortion expected after breach.

13 May 2026 - 11:47PM

Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, says it has reached a deal with hackers to return and destroy compromised data. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Crime in Hong Kong

Data of 72,571 Hongkongers leaked in Canvas hack, police receive 2 reports so far

Breach is part of wider global data leak that has affected universities and schools worldwide, with estimated 9,000 institutions impacted.

12 May 2026 - 8:14PM

Hong Kong society

Editorial | Online privacy guidelines underscore key role of parents and teachers

Practical tips issued by Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner are a timely step as children expand their digital footprints more than ever today.

28 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

Hong Kong society

Personal info of 9,045 people compromised in Hong Kong private club data breach

Yau Yat Chuen Garden City Club’s management system rendered inoperable due to ransomware attack that encrypted information system files.

23 Apr 2026 - 10:30PM

Yau Yat Chuen Garden City Club notified the privacy watchdog on October 31 last year that its club management system was rendered inoperable due to a ransomware attack. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong society

Filmmaker accuses school of ‘blatantly lying’ in row over documentary screening

Mabel Cheung says she’s shocked after Ying Wa Girls’ School said it had not authorised festival screening of her film To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self.

10 Apr 2026 - 5:08PM

Acclaimed filmmaker Mabel Cheung has slammed Ying Wa Girls’ School over the documentary’s screening in Italy. Photo: Sam Tsang

Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | Breaches reveal worrying gaps in Hong Kong’s data defences

Hong Kong cannot afford these cybersecurity shortcomings as the city strives to become a global hub for innovation and technology.

10 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

Crime in Hong Kong

Police arrest man on suspicion of stealing personal data of 56,000 patients

Employee of Hospital Authority contractor made an unauthorised entry into system and retrieved data.

8 Apr 2026 - 11:38PM

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hospital Authority apologises for data breach involving 56,000 patients

Privacy watchdog and police investigating after patients’ names, identity card numbers, dates of hospital visits and medical procedures leaked.

4 Apr 2026 - 7:58PM

The Hospital Authority building in Mong Kok. Photo: Felix Wong

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong prison department’s IT system hacked, 6,800 staffers’ data compromised

Authorities reveal breach occurred on Tuesday, allowing hacker access to names, email addresses, employment history and other personal information.

28 Mar 2026 - 12:21PM

Hong Kong prison authorities have reported the hack to police, the Security Bureau, the city’s privacy watchdog and the Digital Policy Office. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong society

More websites, mobile apps for children collecting personal data: study

Global investigation examined 876 websites and mobile apps designed specifically for children across multiple sectors.

25 Mar 2026 - 9:23PM

Hong Kong science and tech

Fix, don’t fire ‘digital employee’ OpenClaw over security risks: Paul Chan

Finance chief’s remarks follow Digital Policy Office’s advice to government departments to avoid installing AI agent.

16 Mar 2026 - 10:05PM

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The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

Hong Kong’s ‘AI city brain’ to cost initial HK$200m, but ‘won’t catch thieves’

John Lee and Eric Chan stress new system will consolidate data to improve city management and won’t be used for crime detection or surveillance.

Suspected cyberattack puts data of 33,054 customers of group-buying app at risk

Hong Kong privacy watchdog arrests boxer for allegedly doxxing opponent

3 helpers sacked, issued warnings over use of employer data to secure loans

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog highlights three cases and says helpers’ actions led to their employers being harassed by debt collectors.

Over 153,000 students, staff affected in Canvas data breach: privacy watchdog

Investigation by Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data finds 96 per cent of those affected in May cyberattack were from City University.

Extreme caution urged as data privacy complaints jump 62% in AI era

Commissioner urges public to be careful about sharing personal data during online shopping and membership sign-ups, saying such details are marketable.

Baptist University reviews IT security after ransomware group claims breach

Cybercrime group ‘The Gentlemen’ made allegation; cybersecurity monitoring platforms say about 1,900 credentials may have been compromised.

Man arrested over doxxing 2 former associates in failed restaurant business

Wholesale food supplier posted personal details of restaurant owner and consultant after dealings turned sour, Hong Kong watchdog says.

Hong Kong warns of scam sites posing as Canada, UK and Thailand e-visa portals

Privacy watchdog says fake sites often use URLs with spelling mistakes, extra letters or numbers.

Dashcam row allegedly involving singer David Lui could be referred to police

Watchdog receives complaint over viral dashcam video, warns resharing without consent may breach anti-doxxing law.

Hong Kong watchdog orders removal of viral video allegedly showing singer David Lui

Privacy commissioner has instructed social media platform to remove clip of heated dispute inside ride-hailing vehicle.

Fine firms for data breaches, Hong Kong cybersecurity experts urge

Call comes after personal information of more than 1 million people linked to leading appliance distributor was maliciously encrypted.

Cyberattack on Hong Kong’s Shun Hing Group affects data of 1 million people

Personal information of more than 920,000 customers, including their names, addresses and email addresses, involved in breach.

Data leak fears after ransomware attack hits Hong Kong’s Kee Wah Bakery

Privacy watchdog seeks details to assess risks as the company alerts staff, customers and suppliers.

Hong Kong watchdog launches data privacy academy to develop top talent in sector

City’s privacy commissioner says move aligns with national plan to develop Hong Kong into global talent hub while addressing new AI challenges.

Hong Kong privacy watchdog warns of fake retailer compensation call scam

Customers duped by fraudsters posing as Built-in Pro staff using personal data, with one victim losing HK$17,000.

Hong Kong privacy watchdog slams Canvas owner for paying ransom to hackers

Privacy commissioner says Instructure’s payment is a mishandling of crime and firm should invest in boosting cybersecurity instead.

Canvas reaches deal with hackers to return data, including Hong Kong users

Parent company Instructure says hackers returned and destroyed data of thousands of users after deal, with no extortion expected after breach.

Data of 72,571 Hongkongers leaked in Canvas hack, police receive 2 reports so far

Breach is part of wider global data leak that has affected universities and schools worldwide, with estimated 9,000 institutions impacted.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Online privacy guidelines underscore key role of parents and teachers

Practical tips issued by Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner are a timely step as children expand their digital footprints more than ever today.

Personal info of 9,045 people compromised in Hong Kong private club data breach

Yau Yat Chuen Garden City Club’s management system rendered inoperable due to ransomware attack that encrypted information system files.

Filmmaker accuses school of ‘blatantly lying’ in row over documentary screening

Mabel Cheung says she’s shocked after Ying Wa Girls’ School said it had not authorised festival screening of her film To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self.

Editorial | Breaches reveal worrying gaps in Hong Kong’s data defences

Hong Kong cannot afford these cybersecurity shortcomings as the city strives to become a global hub for innovation and technology.

Police arrest man on suspicion of stealing personal data of 56,000 patients

Employee of Hospital Authority contractor made an unauthorised entry into system and retrieved data.

Hospital Authority apologises for data breach involving 56,000 patients

Privacy watchdog and police investigating after patients’ names, identity card numbers, dates of hospital visits and medical procedures leaked.

Hong Kong prison department’s IT system hacked, 6,800 staffers’ data compromised

Authorities reveal breach occurred on Tuesday, allowing hacker access to names, email addresses, employment history and other personal information.

More websites, mobile apps for children collecting personal data: study

Global investigation examined 876 websites and mobile apps designed specifically for children across multiple sectors.

Fix, don’t fire ‘digital employee’ OpenClaw over security risks: Paul Chan

Finance chief’s remarks follow Digital Policy Office’s advice to government departments to avoid installing AI agent.

Editorial | Online privacy guidelines underscore key role of parents and teachers