Advertisement

No need to amend law in light of AI porn case, Hong Kong privacy chief says

Existing ordinance covers misuse of personal data in deepfake images, privacy commissioner Ada Chung says

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
An AI porn case involving a student at the University of Hong Kong has sparked debate on whether the law needs to be changed. Photo: Dickson Lee

The head of Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has said there is no immediate need to amend the law to specifically target the creation of AI-generated deepfake pornography, stressing that existing legislation is sufficient to handle offences.

In her most detailed comments following a recent high-profile case at the University of Hong Kong, Ada Chung Lai-ling said on Saturday that because the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance was “principle-based” and “technology-neutral”, it applied to the misuse of personal data in deepfake images.

“The Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance is still applicable … For now, we do not see a need to amend the law,” Chung said at a seminar at the Hong Kong News-Expo.

Advertisement

Chung, the privacy commissioner for personal data, said her office would handle complaints concerning AI-generated porn in the same way as any other case involving the collection or disclosure of data.

She also noted that other existing laws, such as criminal ordinances that prohibited the disclosure of obscene images, could apply.

Ada Chung has confirmed that her office has launched a criminal investigation into the case. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Ada Chung has confirmed that her office has launched a criminal investigation into the case. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Chung declined to comment on the specifics of the recent case, in which a male law student was found to have used artificial intelligence (AI) to create more than 700 pornographic deepfake images of female classmates and other people.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x