Statistics on personal data misuse from the Companies Register

Scott Edmunds made this Freedom of Information request to Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

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Dear Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data,

In light of the current proposal on protection of Personal Information on the Companies Register, this cites as one of the main reasons for withholding more data from public inspection is because of of increased reported cases of doxxing and personal data misuse, the LegCo paper citing as evidence:

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data received 1 036 doxxing complaint cases in 2020.

https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr20-21/english...

Of these 1 036 doxxing complaint cases in 2020 how many related to personal information obtained from the Companies Register?

If you don't have this information to hand you are welcome to share my request with any other department that does have this information.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

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From: Scott Edmunds <[FOI #599 email]>
To: FOI requests at Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data <[Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data request email]>
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Subject: Freedom of Information request - Statistics on personal data misuse
from the Companies Register
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Dear Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data,

In light of the current proposal on protection of Personal Information on the Companies Register, this cites as one of the main reasons for withholding more data from public inspection is because of of increased reported cases of doxxing and personal data misuse, the LegCo paper citing as evidence:

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data received 1 036 doxxing complaint cases in 2020.

https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr20-21/english...

Of these 1 036 doxxing complaint cases in 2020 how many related to personal information obtained from the Companies Register?

If you don't have this information to hand you are welcome to share my request with any other department that does have this information.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

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Sent request to Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data again, using a new contact address.

Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

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對閣下造成的不便,我們謹此致歉。   

   

(以上為電腦自動發出的認收訊息。)   

香港個人資料私隱專員公署   

   

   

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you in due course.   

   

Having regard to the latest development of the local epidemic situation,
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本電郵所載資料可能屬機密及/或受保密權涵蓋的資料及僅供指定的收件人使用。如
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有病毒,電郵的傳送不能保證安全或毫無錯漏。因此,發件人不對電郵內容的準確性
作出任何聲明或保證,並明確表示對於由傳送本電郵任何部分而產生的任何損失或損
害,亦不能承擔任何法律責任。
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Natalie POON, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

Dear Mr Edmunds, 

 

        We refer to your application for access to information dated 22
April 2021 addressed to the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data
requesting to know of the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases received
by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong
(the PCPD) in 2020, how many of them related to the collection of personal
data from the Companies Register.  

  

2.       Of the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases received by the PCPD
in 2020, some of them related to the disclosure of addresses and/or Hong
Kong Identity Card numbers.  Public registers could be one of the sources
of the personal data concerned.  However, we have not kept any breakdown
as to which public register was involved.  Hence, we regret to inform you
that we are unable to provide you with the requested information as we do
not possess such information.   

 

3.         Should you have any queries, please contact the undersigned at
3423 6609. 

 

 

Yours sincerely, 

 

 

(Natalie POON) 

Access to Information Officer 

for Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Edmunds <[FOI #599 email]>
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2021 5:32 PM
To: Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data <[Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Statistics on personal data
misuse from the Companies Register

Dear Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data,

In light of the current proposal on protection of Personal Information on
the Companies Register, this cites as one of the main reasons for
withholding more data  from public inspection  is because of of 
increased  reported  cases  of  doxxing  and  personal  data  misuse, the
LegCo paper citing as evidence:

The  Office  of  the  Privacy  Commissioner  for  Personal  Data 
received  1 036  doxxing  complaint cases in 2020.

[1]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Of these 1 036  doxxing  complaint cases in 2020 how many related to
personal information obtained from the Companies Register? 

If you don't have this information to hand you are welcome to share my
request with any other department that does have this information.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #599 email]

Is [Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data? If so, please contact
us using this form:
[2]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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********************************************************
The information contained in this email may be confidential and/or
privileged and is only for the intended recipient. If you are not the
intended recipient, you should not disclose, disseminate, distribute,
print or copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately by email or
telephone at (852) 2827 2827 if you have received this email by mistake
and delete this email from your system. Please note that email
transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as
information could be intercepted, interfered with, lost, destroyed,
delayed or incomplete or contaminated. The sender therefore does not make
any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the contents in the
email and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss or
damage howsoever arising from any part of this email transmission.

本電郵所載資料可能屬機密及/或受保密權涵蓋的資料及僅供指定的收件人使用。如
你並非指定的收件人,請勿披露、傳送、分發、列印或複製本電郵。如你錯誤地收到
本電郵,請立即以電郵或致電 (852) 2827 2827 通知發件人,並從你的系統刪除本
電郵。請注意,由於電郵內容可能被截取、干擾、遺失、破壞、延遲傳送或缺失或含
有病毒,電郵的傳送不能保證安全或毫無錯漏。因此,發件人不對電郵內容的準確性
作出任何聲明或保證,並明確表示對於由傳送本電郵任何部分而產生的任何損失或損
害,亦不能承擔任何法律責任。
********************************************************

References

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3. https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
4. https://www.pcpd.org.hk/

hide quoted sections

Dear Natalie POON,

Many thanks for letting me know there is no data on whether the public register has been used for doxxing.

Regarding the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases you say you received in 2020 can I ask:

1. How many of these related to the leaking of HKID card numbers?

2. How many of the names leaked were people listed (i.e. company directors) in the Companies Register?

3. How many doxxing cases have been referred to the HK Police, and of these how many have been related to the Companies Register?

Yours sincerely,

Scott Edmunds

Natalie POON, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

Dear Mr Edmunds,
This is to acknowledge receipt of your email.  We will revert to you in
due course.

 Yours sincerely, 

 
 (Natalie POON) 
 Access to Information Officer 
 for Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Edmunds <[FOI #599 email]>
Sent: Sunday, May 2, 2021 2:58 PM
To: Natalie POON <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Statistics on personal data
misuse from the Companies Register
 
Dear Natalie POON,

Many thanks for letting me know there is no data on whether the public
register has been used for doxxing.

Regarding the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases you say you received
in 2020 can I ask:

1.  How many of these related to the leaking of HKID card numbers?

2. How many of the names leaked were people listed (i.e. company
directors) in the Companies Register?

3. How many doxxing cases have been referred to the HK Police, and of
these how many have been related to the Companies Register?

Yours sincerely,

Scott Edmunds

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Edmunds, 

  

         We refer to your application for access to information dated 22
 April 2021 addressed to the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data
 requesting to know of the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases received
 by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong
 (the PCPD) in 2020, how many of them related to the collection of
personal
 data from the Companies Register.  

   

 2.       Of the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases received by the
PCPD
 in 2020, some of them related to the disclosure of addresses and/or Hong
 Kong Identity Card numbers.  Public registers could be one of the sources
 of the personal data concerned.  However, we have not kept any breakdown
 as to which public register was involved.  Hence, we regret to inform you
 that we are unable to provide you with the requested information as we do
 not possess such information.   

  

 3.         Should you have any queries, please contact the undersigned at
 3423 6609. 

  

  

 Yours sincerely, 

  

  

 (Natalie POON) 

 Access to Information Officer 

 for Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong 

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #599 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[1]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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********************************************************
The information contained in this email may be confidential and/or
privileged and is only for the intended recipient. If you are not the
intended recipient, you should not disclose, disseminate, distribute,
print or copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately by email or
telephone at (852) 2827 2827 if you have received this email by mistake
and delete this email from your system. Please note that email
transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as
information could be intercepted, interfered with, lost, destroyed,
delayed or incomplete or contaminated. The sender therefore does not make
any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the contents in the
email and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss or
damage howsoever arising from any part of this email transmission.

本電郵所載資料可能屬機密及/或受保密權涵蓋的資料及僅供指定的收件人使用。如
你並非指定的收件人,請勿披露、傳送、分發、列印或複製本電郵。如你錯誤地收到
本電郵,請立即以電郵或致電 (852) 2827 2827 通知發件人,並從你的系統刪除本
電郵。請注意,由於電郵內容可能被截取、干擾、遺失、破壞、延遲傳送或缺失或含
有病毒,電郵的傳送不能保證安全或毫無錯漏。因此,發件人不對電郵內容的準確性
作出任何聲明或保證,並明確表示對於由傳送本電郵任何部分而產生的任何損失或損
害,亦不能承擔任何法律責任。
********************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
2. https://www.pcpd.org.hk/

hide quoted sections

Natalie POON, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

Dear Mr Edmunds, 

 

We refer to your application for access to information dated 2 May 2021.  

 

Our replies to your requests are as follows:- 

 

1.   Of the 1,036 doxxing-related cases handled by the PCPD in 2020, 134
of them related to the disclosure of Hong Kong Identity Card numbers
and/or addresses, and public registers could be one of the sources of the
data concerned.  The corresponding figure for 2019 is 750.   

 

2.   We do not have information on whether the names of the victims in the
1,036 doxxing-related cases also appeared on the Companies Register.   
 

3.   As of 30 April 2021, we have referred 1,461 doxxing-related cases to
the Police for criminal investigation and consideration of prosecution.
Given the ongoing criminal investigation, we have no information on
whether these 1,461 cases related to the Companies Register. 

 

Should you have any queries, please contact the undersigned at 3423 6609. 

 

 

 

Your sincerely, 

 

 

(Natalie Poon) 

Access Information Officer 

for Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong 

      

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Edmunds <[FOI #599 email]>
Sent: Sunday, May 2, 2021 2:58 PM
To: Natalie POON <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Statistics on personal data
misuse from the Companies Register
 
Dear Natalie POON,

Many thanks for letting me know there is no data on whether the public
register has been used for doxxing.

Regarding the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases you say you received
in 2020 can I ask:

1.  How many of these related to the leaking of HKID card numbers?

2. How many of the names leaked were people listed (i.e. company
directors) in the Companies Register?

3. How many doxxing cases have been referred to the HK Police, and of
these how many have been related to the Companies Register?

Yours sincerely,

Scott Edmunds

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Edmunds, 

  

         We refer to your application for access to information dated 22
 April 2021 addressed to the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data
 requesting to know of the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases received
 by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong
 (the PCPD) in 2020, how many of them related to the collection of
personal
 data from the Companies Register.  

   

 2.       Of the 1,036 doxxing-related complaint cases received by the
PCPD
 in 2020, some of them related to the disclosure of addresses and/or Hong
 Kong Identity Card numbers.  Public registers could be one of the sources
 of the personal data concerned.  However, we have not kept any breakdown
 as to which public register was involved.  Hence, we regret to inform you
 that we are unable to provide you with the requested information as we do
 not possess such information.   

  

 3.         Should you have any queries, please contact the undersigned at
 3423 6609. 

  

  

 Yours sincerely, 

  

  

 (Natalie POON) 

 Access to Information Officer 

 for Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong 

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #599 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[1]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

[2]PCPD Banner

********************************************************
The information contained in this email may be confidential and/or
privileged and is only for the intended recipient. If you are not the
intended recipient, you should not disclose, disseminate, distribute,
print or copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately by email or
telephone at (852) 2827 2827 if you have received this email by mistake
and delete this email from your system. Please note that email
transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as
information could be intercepted, interfered with, lost, destroyed,
delayed or incomplete or contaminated. The sender therefore does not make
any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the contents in the
email and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss or
damage howsoever arising from any part of this email transmission.

本電郵所載資料可能屬機密及/或受保密權涵蓋的資料及僅供指定的收件人使用。如
你並非指定的收件人,請勿披露、傳送、分發、列印或複製本電郵。如你錯誤地收到
本電郵,請立即以電郵或致電 (852) 2827 2827 通知發件人,並從你的系統刪除本
電郵。請注意,由於電郵內容可能被截取、干擾、遺失、破壞、延遲傳送或缺失或含
有病毒,電郵的傳送不能保證安全或毫無錯漏。因此,發件人不對電郵內容的準確性
作出任何聲明或保證,並明確表示對於由傳送本電郵任何部分而產生的任何損失或損
害,亦不能承擔任何法律責任。
********************************************************

References

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1. https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
2. https://www.pcpd.org.hk/

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