Internet service providers (ISPs) have challenged guidelines released last week by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCO) on how Internet users can protect their privacy, and say security problems on the Net are exaggerated.
The PCO issued two sets of guidelines. One for individual Internet users is meant to raise awareness of privacy risks and to teach precautions. The other guides organisations on what to do when they collect, display and transmit personal data.
The guide for organisations also says ISPs cannot use or sell clicktrail information to telemarketers.
Normally used for troubleshooting and system maintenance, clicktrail data is a record of a user's Web activities, including sites visited. The data can reflect behaviour and hobbies and could be valuable to marketing firms or advertisers.
Charles Mok, general manager of HKNet and secretary of Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association (HKISPA), questioned why the PCO placed a 'top priority' on setting guidelines for Internet usage.
'I don't think the privacy risk on the Internet is higher than that in banks and other industries,' he said. It was 'much more common' to have personal information such as credit-card or identity-card numbers stolen in restaurants or shops.
Local ISPs said they agreed on the need to respect and protect the privacy of Internet users, and this was stated in the HKISPA's code of practice.