Media Statements

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) today arrested a Chinese female aged 23 in the New Territories. The arrested person was suspected to have disclosed the personal data of her ex-boyfriend without his 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 once had an intimate relationship which terminated in mid-April 2025. Thereafter, the victim started another relationship with another female. In late April 2025, three posts containing the personal data of the victim were posted in a personal account on a social media platform, alongside some negative comments against him and netizens were incited to “like” the posts in exchange of further disclosure of the victim’s personal data. The personal data disclosed included the victim’s Chinese name, partial English name, gender, photos, username of his social media account, the names of the universities and courses he attended, his occupation at the material time, as well as a photo of the victim’s university student card showing his Chinese name, English name, photo, the name of the university and the course that he enrolled. The victim lodged a complaint with the PCPD subsequently.
 
The arrested person is granted bail. The PCPD will continue its investigation into the case.
 
The PCPD reminds members of the public that they should not dox others because of relationship disputes, and should also not incite netizens to endorse illegal doxxing acts. 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—

1. with an intent to cause any specified harm to the data subject or any family member of the data subject; or
2. 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—

1. the person discloses any personal data of a data subject without the relevant consent of the data subject—

1. with an intent to cause any specified harm to the data subject or any family member of the data subject; or
2. 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

2. 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—

1. harassment, molestation, pestering, threat or intimidation to the person;
2. bodily harm or psychological harm to the person;
3. harm causing the person reasonably to be concerned for the person’s safety or well-being; or
4. damage to the property of the person.