Data leakage cases recorded by Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog increased 21 per cent last year, with hacking being the primary cause.
But the number of doxxing cases has dropped significantly since legislation criminalising the act was passed in 2021, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling said on Tuesday.
Chung’s office received 246 data breach notices in 2025, a 21 per cent increase from 203 cases in the year before.
Hacking was the main cause of data leaks, accounting for 81 cases, about one-third of the total. The number of hacking cases also rose 33 per cent year on year from 61 in 2024.
“In the digital age, virtually all companies store data on digital systems rather than in physical form. That is why hackers target these systems to obtain personal information,” Chung said, describing such a surge as a “global phenomenon”.
“Everyone, including companies, NGOs and schools, should prioritise safeguarding the personal data in their possession.”