The HKID index: service suspended
A special message from our Founder
15th February 2013
Dear Readers,
Webb-site has this evening received an e-mail letter from Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), stating that it has read newspaper reports about the Webb-site HKID Index and is "duty bound to examine any possible contravention of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance" (PDPO). The PCPD has also been briefing members of the media about its enquiries and theories.
Webb-site always acts lawfully. All of the information in our database comes from public sources and has therefore been previously disclosed. All of this aims to increase transparency and accountability.
Wherever possible, the WWW database avoids mistaken identity. The use of a unique identifier, such as a government-issued ID number or passport number, substantially reduces mistaken identity.
No sense
We do not collect data from individuals, and have therefore never needed to seek their consent. It goes against common sense to suggest that anyone who records publicly available information is breaching the PDPO.
Accordingly, with immediate effect, the Webb-site HKID index is indefinitely suspended.
A Supreme Court Justice once said that "Sunlight is the best disinfectant". This has been a dark day for transparency in Hong Kong.
David M. Webb
Founder, Webb-site.com
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