Officers working with Hong Kong privacy watchdog won’t always need warrant to search phones or computers under doxxing law

Proposed bill would allow investigators to search electronic devices if certain conditions are met

Privacy commissioner plans to hire retired officers to handle cases and work with police if necessary

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Officers will be able to stop, search and arrest a person without a warrant, if the person was reasonably suspected to have committed certain offences. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 8:38pm, 13 Aug 2021Updated: 9:20pm, 13 Aug 2021

Officers working for Hong Kong’s privacy commissioner could search an electronic device without a court warrant in certain circumstances under a proposed doxxing bill, the watchdog’s chief said on Friday.

Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling also said the office planned to recruit retired law enforcement officers to handle doxxing cases and conduct joint operations with police when necessary.

Under the bill, the commissioner and authorised people could apply for a warrant to enter and search premises and seize material for investigative purposes.

They would also be able to stop, search and arrest someone without a warrant, if the person was reasonably suspected to have committed certain offences.

Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung. Photo: Nora Tam

Speaking at the second meeting of the Legislative Council’s bills committee on the legislation, Chung said a court warrant should be applied for if the situation allowed, otherwise three criteria were needed in the absence of one.

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