個人資料大賤賣 私隱公署無牙虎

近年商業機構競相收集個人資料作促銷用途，衍生大量流弊，多個商業機構被揭發轉售市民私隱圖利，最新的個案更涉及跨境售賣個人資料，以及透過手機程式洩密。

本報踢爆，內地多個網站公然兜售港人個人資料，來源疑是透過地下渠道取得本港或內地網購單據，套取收貨人姓名、地址等私隱，再以人民幣一元賤賣，本報記者輕易購得十二個有關資料，查證全部屬實。此外，私隱公署指令停用侵犯個人私隱的「起你底」手機應用程式，該程式早在去年面世，至今已查閱資料達二十萬次，公署亦先後收到十二宗投訴及六十宗查詢，竟然拖足一年才叫停，坐視市民私隱大量外洩。

表面上，港府近年不斷修例保障市民私隱，其實大多是有姿勢無實際。例如○七年實施的《非應邀電子訊息條例》只規管預錄式電話直銷，未將真人電話直銷一併納入；至於早前生效的新私隱條例則引入豁免條款，把拒絕接受資訊的責任卸到市民身上，商業機構只需向客戶發出不反對通知書，便可以繼續使用已掌握的個人資料促銷。說穿了，私隱公署等公營機構早已淪為退休高官俱樂部，指望其保障市民利益，何異緣木求魚。

Personal data are cheaply sold since the PCPD lacks teeth

In recent years, business establishments have been vying with one another in collecting personal data for marketing purposes, resulting in loads of abuse. It is discovered that many companies are profiting from the reselling of people’s personal data. Some latest cases even involve the selling of Hong Kong citizens’ data across the border, and the leakage of personal privacies through smart phone apps.

Our newspaper has exposed that a number of Mainland websites are openly touting Hong Kong people’s personal data. We suspect that the touters acquire online shopping documents from Hong Kong and Mainland websites through underground channels. Then they proceed to sell the name and address of a consignee for as cheap as one yuan. Our reporters have easily bought 12 such data, which have all since been verified to be authentic. A few days ago, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data （PCPD） directed the operator of the mobile app, Do No Evil, to cease supplying information which seriously invades privacy. The app was launched last year and over 200,000 searches have been conducted through it. Despite having received 12 complaints and 60 enquiries about the app, the PCPD has dragged its feet for one whole year and has just sat by idly while watching a massive leakage of people’s confidential data.

On the surface, the Hong Kong Government has been incessantly amending the relevant laws to protect people’s privacy. However, many of these laws are not effective. For example, the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance, enacted in 2007, only regulates pre-recorded direct marketing on telephone; real people calling up for solicitation is excluded. Earlier on, the amended Personal Data （Privacy） Ordinance came into effect. Exemption clauses were introduced to shift onto consumers the responsibility of opting out from direct marketing activities. Commercial establishments only need to issue a letter of no objection to their clients, then they can continue to use the personal data they already have for marketing. To put it bluntly, public bodies such as the PCPD have long been reduced to clubs for retired senior civil servants. Any hope that they would protect the public’s interests is simply fantasy.

重要生字

lack teeth 無牙老虎

vie with one another 競相

tout 兜售

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