Hong Kong introduces new legal amendments to outlaw doxxing

The changes are part of the government’s long-expected plan to rein in cyber harassment common during the 2019 anti-government protests

Under the proposal, disclosing someone’s personal data without their consent ‘with an intent to threaten, intimidate or harass’ will constitute an offence

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Police officers were frequent targets of doxxing during the 2019 anti-government protests. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 7:48pm, 11 May 2021Updated: 11:25pm, 11 May 2021

Anyone engaged in doxxing with the intent to threaten, intimidate, harass or cause psychological harm could face up to five years behind bars and a fine of as much as HK$1 million (US$128,765) under a series of legal amendments proposed by the Hong Kong government on Tuesday.

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau also recommended the Office of the Privacy Commissioner be equipped with investigative powers allowing it to compel people to assist in inquiries and request the removal of offending content.

Failure to comply should be a criminal offence, the bureau said.

Doxxing refers to the practice of maliciously leaking others’ personal information, and the proposed amendments to the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance are part of the government’s long-expected plan to rein in the kind of cyber harassment that became common during the 2019 anti-government protests.

Amid that highly polarised climate, protesters, journalists and especially police officers and their supporters were commonly targeted for doxxing. The situation prompted the secretary for justice at the time to apply to the court for an injunction order to protect police officers and their family members from the practice.

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