Hong Kong: Privacy Authority Warns Against Illegal Data Scraping

Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) issued a statement addressing the growing issue of illegal data scraping, which was published on 29 October 2024. This warning was part of a global effort led by the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group of the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA).

Ada Chung Lai-ling, Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner, explained that the PCPD, along with other international data protection authorities, issued the joint statement to remind social media platforms and websites that host publicly available personal data of their responsibility to protect this information from illegal data scraping.

The PCPD emphasized the serious risks of data scraping, which can lead to personal information being sold on the dark web without the individual's consent. This can result in identity theft, targeted cyberattacks, and unwanted marketing or spam, putting people's privacy and security at risk.

Official release is published here