Skip to main content

Echoing WCRD to Call on Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust

  • 2017.03.15

Building a digital world consumers can trust

 

Consumer Rights Day, on 15 March this year, coordinated by the Consumer International (CI) takes on the theme "building a digital world consumers can trust".

According to CI, over half a billion digital, personal records were lost or stolen in 2015, exposing nearly 430 million identities.  These known incidents were only a small portion of the estimated, total number of thefts. The situation is worrisome.

A study found that as many as 71% of Hong Kong companies experienced a cyber security breach in 2015.  Additionally, according to the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, 98 data breach incidents were reported to him in 2015, affecting 871,000 Hong Kong individuals. That's nearly 18 times higher than in the previous year.  The Commissioner pointed out that some of these data breaches involved hacking and malware invasions, inadvertent disclosure of personal data by email, security vulnerabilities on websites and the computer networks of organisations, etc.

In addition to concerns over privacy security, the Consumer Council is acutely aware of the problems arising from online transactions in recent years.  The advent of new technology has brought about a wider variety of choices and more convenience for consumers. At the same time, questions about upgrading the quality of online products and services, improving the sales practices of online business operators, establishing a holistic complaint mechanism and preventing abuse of big data, all are forthcoming.

The Council actively echoes CI's global campaign, calling on the authority to establish a regulatory regime and a comprehensive online regulating system.  Meanwhile, the Council recommends consumers take heed of the 10 tips published by the CI on strengthening cyber security, in a concerted effort to build a digital world consumers can trust: 

  1. Use different and original passwords for all your accounts;
  2. Make good use of your security settings on all your mobile devices;
  3. Be careful about what you share on social media
  4. Be vigilant when using public Wi-Fi;
  5. Distinguish hoax emails and text messages;
  6. Avoid opening email attachments or links sent by strangers;
  7. Use a temporary email address;
  8. Make payments only on secure websites;
  9. Keep software regularly updated;
  10. Install and update antivirus and anti-spy software.