London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 01, 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
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
×