Online safety regulation:
Hong Kong overview

   Scope of online safety measure(s)

Per the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance, a "person" includes any public body and any body of persons, corporate or unincorporated.  Therefore, the Online Safety Measure(s) apply to a broad range of online platforms.

   Online harms addressed

• The COIAO, the PCPO and the CO regulate the distribution of indecent content, child pornography and pornography involving persons under 18.
• The PDPO addresses doxxing acts with intent to gain in money or property or to cause loss in money or property to the data subject, or has an intent to or is being reckless as to whether any specified harm would be, or would likely be, caused to the data subject or any family member of the data subject.

   Territorial scope

• No extra-territorial scope for the Online Safety Measures under COIAO, PCPO and CO.
• The anti-doxxing provisions under the PDPO empowers the Privacy Commissioner to serve cessation notices on service providers, requesting the removal of doxxing messages. These notices may be served on non-Hong Kong service providers.

   Penalties and enforcement

• Penalties in connection with the COIAO, the PCPO and the CO include fines and imprisonment. Under the PCPO, enforcement action also includes the seizure and forfeiture of obscene materials or child pornography materials.
• Penalties for doxxing under the PDPO include fines and imprisonment.