Privacy watchdog may launch probe after pupils complain video clip was posted online without consent
Privacy Commissioner may launch probe after students complain that film of them praising reform plan was posted without their consent
The privacy watchdog may investigate allegations that a video clip taken by a pro-government group of secondary school pupils supporting electoral reform proposals was uploaded onto the internet without their consent.
"We are particularly concerned about the incident as it involves youngsters and their rights to privacy in the cyberworld," the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said yesterday. A formal investigation might be launched if there was evidence that the personal data law was breached.
In the six-minute, 48-second film by the Federation of Hong Kong Guangxi Community Organisations, seven pupils take turns to say what was good about implementing the government's controversial blueprint on reform. Three of them allege that the video was then put on the internet without their consent.
The video, taken during an interview in April for a study tour to the United States organised by the federation, stirred a heated debate online, with some derogatory comments posted about the pupils.
Commenting on the incident on Tuesday, Secretary for Education Eddie Ng Hak-kim said the right of pupils to privacy should be respected.
At least one pupil has filed a complaint with the watchdog.
