London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Privacy watchdog demands Facebook tell Hong Kong users personal data was leaked

Privacy watchdog demands Facebook tell Hong Kong users personal data was leaked

While the hack occurred in 2019, Ada Chung, privacy commissioner for personal data, notes information involving 3 million city residents can ‘still be used’ by criminals.

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has renewed its demand that Facebook notify its 3 million users in the city that their personal data has been leaked online, after the US social media giant failed to respond to a similar request made two days ago.

The city’s privacy commissioner for personal data, Ada Chung Lai-ling, on Tuesday said her office first contacted Facebook’s Hong Kong office on Sunday, the day news broke of a massive leak involving more than 500 million users worldwide.

“We wrote to Facebook immediately and have been in contact with its staff. They told us the data was from a leak that took place in 2019. The data concerned included usernames, Facebook IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, locations, dates of birth and their bios,” Chung told an RTHK programme on Tuesday.

Hong Kong’s privacy commissioner has now twice requested that Facebook notify Hong Kong users directly about the recent leak of their personal information.


Her office has requested the California-based firm inform Hong Kong users of the leak as soon as possible, as those affected could still be using the same phone numbers and email addresses they were two years ago.

“They still have not responded to us on this officially, but we have already reminded them. Facebook must handle the problem quickly and properly,” Chung added.

Shortly after the data emerged online, Facebook revealed it had been hacked in 2019 and said the security issue had been fixed in August of that year.

Local media reports have suggested lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a former security minister, was among those whose personal data was made publicly available. According to Francis Fong Po-kiu, honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, the web page carrying the leaked information was no longer accessible as of Tuesday.

Chung, the privacy commissioner, expressed concern that criminals could use the data for nefarious purposes such as stealing identities to borrow money.

“Even though the data was from an old leak, it can still be used [by criminals],” she said.

“Some people may pretend that they know you, because they already have some information about you, then try to gather more personal information.”

She urged Facebook users to update their passwords and begin using a two-step verification process.

While no reports have indicated passwords were compromised, Facebook did not comment when the Post asked about the issue on Tuesday, nor did it pledge to notify affected users.

“We have been in contact with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data about the incident, and clarified that this is old data that was previously reported on in 2019. We found and fixed this issue in August 2019. We will continue to keep in close contact with the office in regards to their inquiries,” a Facebook spokesman replied.

While Facebook said the issue had long been fixed, Fong, the IT expert, said: “The data has already been leaked. What’s done cannot be undone.”

“The data has already been leaked for two years. What have hackers done with this data? … We don’t know if the data included passwords. The set of data made public doesn’t contain passwords, but it doesn’t mean the hackers don’t have them,” he added.

He urged Hongkongers to use different passwords for different internet platforms.

Facebook has been battling data security problems for years. In 2018, it was revealed that political consultancy Cambridge Analytica accessed the information of about 87 million Facebook users without their consent. Facebook later disabled a feature that allowed anyone to search for users via their phone numbers.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×