Anti-doxxing Law Has Been Effective: Watchdog

Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung on Monday said the anti-doxxing law that was introduced last year has been effective in curbing such breaches.

She told a press conference that since the legislation came into effect last October, the watchdog has issued 774 cessation notices to 14 platforms to remove a total of 3,900 messages, with a compliance rate of around 90 percent.

"I can assure you that for every platform with unlawful doxxing messages, we have taken enforcement actions,” she said.

Local media had earlier reported that the watchdog is considering banning public access to the Telegram messaging app as part of efforts to clamp down on doxxing activities.

When asked to verify those reports, Chung would only say that the watchdog will do whatever it takes to clamp down on privacy violations.

"I'm not in a position to disclose the details of our enforcement action in any particular case. However, we are monitoring the amount of doxxing messages on the social platform closely,” she said.

“We are constantly keeping an eye on the number of doxxing messages, which appear on some major platforms, with a view to taking appropriate enforcement actions in individual circumstances."