PCPD finds 23 blind ads, convicts 26 over doxxing

It has received 57 enquiries and 11 complaints regarding Blind Ads.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) found 23 blind ads upon 22,270 recruitment advertisements it reviewed that were published across 13 online recruitment platforms, according to a press release. 

Prior to this, the PCPD said that it received 57 enquiries and 11 complaints regarding blind ads and has initiated investigations against five organisations.

Ada Chung Lai-ling, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, warned job seekers to stay vigilant as Blind Ads may be used to collect personal data for fraudulent activities. 

The PCPD appealed to employers to be transparent in placing recruitment advertisements and disclose the identities of the organisations. It also urged recruitment platforms to review such ads to protect the personal data of the public.

Anti-Doxxing Law updates
Since the Anti-Doxxing Law came into effect, the PCPD handled a total of 3,234 doxxing cases. It issued a total of 2,032 cessation notices to 46 online platforms for the removal of 33,494 doxxing messages, with a compliance rate of over 96%. 

Other than individual doxxing messages, 249 doxxing channels were successfully removed by cessation notices.

As for arrests, the PCPD mounted a total of 58 arrest operations with 59 suspects arrested. During the period, 37 prosecutions were made resulting in 26 convictions.

“For the past year, the main reasons for doxxing the victims were monetary disputes (42%) and personal relationship disputes (31%). There has been a significant decrease in the number of doxxing cases arising from differences in political opinions (2%),” Lai-Ling said. 

To combat doxxing acts, the PCPD launched a series of publicity and educational campaigns including a website on Doxxing Offences, two new books titled ‘The Treasure-trove of Privacy – Understanding Your Personal Data Privacy’ and ‘Personal Data (Privacy) Law in Hong Kong – A Practical Guide on Compliance (Third Edition)’.

The PCPD also organised the Anti-Doxxing Education Talks for secondary school students to be aware of the seriousness of cyberbullying and doxxing. By August 2024, it had visited 50 secondary schools talking to over 17,000 students.