A Debt Collector Arrested for Suspected Doxxing
Date: 11 February 2025
A Debt Collector Arrested for
Suspected Doxxing
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner
for Personal Data (PCPD) today arrested a Chinese male aged 40 in
Kowloon. The arrested person was suspected to have disclosed the
personal data of the data subject without his consent, in
contravention of section 64(3A) of the Personal Data (Privacy)
Ordinance (PDPO).
The PCPD’s investigation revealed that the
victim had been unable to settle outstanding debts which he owed to
several financial institutions. In November 2024, dunning flyers
containing the personal data of the victim were posted on a corridor
wall outside the unit where he resided, alongside allegations that the
victim was in debt. The personal data disclosed included the victim’s
Chinese name, residential address, partial Hong Kong Identity Card
(HKID card) number, as well as a partly redacted copy of the victim’s
HKID card showing his photo, Chinese name, English name, name in
Chinese Commercial Code and gender.
The arrested person is
granted bail. The PCPD will continue its investigation into the case.
The PCPD reminds members of the public that identity cards
contain sensitive personal data. Disclosing copies of identity cards
without the consent of the data subject concerned, either arbitrarily
or maliciously, may constitute a doxxing offence. An offender is
liable on conviction to a fine up to $1,000,000 and imprisonment for
five years.
Relevant provisions under the PDPO
Pursuant to section 64(3A) of the PDPO, a person commits an
offence if the person discloses any personal data of a data subject
without the relevant consent of the data subject—
with an
intent to cause any specified harm to the data subject or any family
member of the data subject; or
being reckless as to whether
any specified harm would be, or would likely be, caused to the data
subject or any family member of the data subject.
A person
who commits an offence under section 64(3A) is liable on conviction to
a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Pursuant to
section 64(3C) of the PDPO, a person commits an offence if—
the person discloses any personal data of a data subject
without the relevant consent of the data subject—
with an
intent to cause any specified harm to the data subject or any family
member of the data subject; or
being reckless as to whether
any specified harm would be, or would likely be, caused to the data
subject or any family member of the data subject; and
the
disclosure causes any specified harm to the data subject or any family
member of the data subject.
A person who commits an offence
under section 64(3C) is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine
of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for five years.
According to
section 64(6) of the PDPO, specified harm in relation to a person
means—
harassment, molestation, pestering, threat or
intimidation to the person;
bodily harm or psychological harm
to the person;
harm causing the person reasonably to be
concerned for the person’s safety or well-being; or
damage to
the property of the person. －End－