Who can “Access My Info”?
Researcher and CSOs launch web application to help citizens find out what phone companies know about them
HONG KONG - Have you ever wondered what your internet provider or your mobile phone company knows about you? In today’s digital society, we leave an immense trail of oftentimes sensitive data behind that can reveal a lot about our personal lives. To better understand the process of data collection, Lokman Tsui, from the School of Journalism and Communication at Chinese University of Hong Kong, Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, Hong Kong In-Media and Keyboard Frontline are launching the project “Access My Info”. The highlight of the project is the web application “Access My Info”, which enables the public to have a better understanding of what exactly do internet providers and mobile phone companies know about them, how they use that data and who they share this with, so citizens can better protect their privacy and personal information.
What is web application “Access My Info” for?
Access My Info, launched on April 19th 10:00 a.m., is a web application that helps citizens to file a legal request to access their own personal information held by internet providers and mobile phone companies. With a few clicks, the website will help the users generate a formal letter that can then send via email or postal mail to the company. Under Section 18 of the Personal Data Privacy Ordinance, any individual may inquire with the companies whether it holds personal data of the respective individual, and if so, the individual may also request to be supplied with a copy of such data. Under Section 19 of the Personal Data Privacy Ordinance, the companies are required to comply and respond within 40 days.
The web application is introduced in Hong Kong by Lokman Tsui, an Assistant Professor at the the School of Journalism and Communication at Chinese University of Hong Kong. The project is in collaboration with local NGOs, including Hong Kong In-Media, Keyboard Frontline and the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto (who originally developed the web application). The mission of the project is to understand the process of personal data collection, processing and sharing and to raise public awareness on the importance of data protection.
To make a request and find out what your internet provider or mobile phone company knows about you, go visit http://www.accessmyinfo.hk. For inquiries, please email [email protected].
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