A Male Arrested for Suspected Doxxing Arising from a Friend’s Monetary Disputes
Date: 24 March 2025
A Male Arrested for
Suspected
Doxxing Arising from a Friend’s Monetary Disputes
The
Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) today
arrested a Chinese male aged 73 on Hong Kong Island. The arrested
person was suspected to have disclosed the personal data of a data
subject without the latter’s consent, in contravention of section
64(3A) of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO).
The
PCPD’s investigation revealed that the victim and the arrested person
became acquainted through business dealings. Since 2022, business
disputes arose between the victim and a business partner, with both
litigating against the other for compensation. In January 2025, the
victim’s wife received messages from an instant messaging application,
stating that the disputes would be escalated, with banners openly
displayed. Soon after, the victim’s wife saw someone displaying a
banner containing the victim’s personal data in the residential estate
where the victim and his wife resided, alongside some negative
comments against the victim. The personal data disclosed included the
victim’s Chinese name, address and photo.
The arrested
person is granted bail. The PCPD will continue investigating the case.
The PCPD reminds members of the public that they should not
dox others because of monetary disputes. Doxxing is a serious offence
and the 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－