Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›China›Hong Kong privacy watchdog warns residents after compl…
Hong Kong privacy watchdog warns residents after complaints surge
Complaints rose 62% to 2,990 in the first half of 2026, with the information technology sector accounting for 867 cases.
Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog urged residents to take extra care guarding their personal data, citing a sharp year on year increase in privacy complaints in the first half of 2026.
According to the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, the office received 2,990 complaints from January through June, up 62% from the same period a year earlier.
SCMP Economy reported that the information technology sector generated the most complaints, with 867 cases. The commissioner attributed the rise to the AI era, which enables personal data to be collected, processed, and used quickly and at scale, leading to more online disputes.
The watchdog also noted that public awareness of personal data and privacy protection has improved, the outlet said.