Telegram shuts down 2 channels created under same name as account blocked for alleged doxxing after Hong Kong privacy watchdog report

Telegram on Friday shut down two channels for allegedly disseminating private information without consent after they appeared under the same name as an account that was previously blocked following a report filed by Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog.

The instant messaging app closed down the original channel called “sons find mum and dads” on May 25 for allegedly leaking the personal information of police officers, officials and pro-Beijing figures after a request by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.

But two channels with the same name appeared shortly after the main account was shut down. The channels, identifying themselves as “main” and “ancillary” accounts, had allegedly shared the personal information of some pro-establishment figures. They had about 1,000 and 650 subscribers respectively.

“The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data will continue to closely monitor the situation of ‘doxxing’ and exercise the powers conferred by the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance to take appropriate enforcement actions to combat illegal ‘doxxing’ and reduce harm to victims,” the watchdog said on May 25.

But it said it would not comment on individual cases.

In a Post check on Friday, all messages had been removed from the two channels, with a label saying both had been “blocked for distributing the private information of individuals without consent (doxxing)”.

Neither the watchdog nor Telegram has responded to the Post’s queries as to which party initiated the shutdown.

The watchdog issued 689 notices to 13 online platforms between October 8 last year and April 30, requesting the removal of more than 3,500 messages for doxxing.