Over half of adult don’t use LeaveHomeSafe: survey

A latest survey showed that over half of adults are not using the LeaveHomeSafe tracing app due to privacy concerns. 

The survey was conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. It interviewed 808 people aged between 15 and 65, from March 5 to 17. 

Results showed that 418 respondents are not using the LeaveHomeSafe app. About 25.5 percent said they were still considering whether to use the app or not, while about 26.2 percent said they didn’t download the app. 

Around 80 percent of respondents explained that the main cause for not using the app was their concerns over privacy. 

About 66 percent of respondents agreed that doxxing should be listed as a criminal offence. Almost 60 percent of respondents supported the idea of empowering Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data to delete content of doxxing. 

Over 70 percent of respondents agreed that the commissioner should have power to conduct independent investigation and to initiate prosecution. 

Data suggested that over 90 percent of respondents agreed that biometric data, including fingerprints and facial image, are sensitive personal information. About 57 percent agreed that CCTV footage should be regulated under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. 

Ronald Chan Cheong-kin, a member of the federation, said that people became more concerned about their privacy because of the development of big data and facial recognition. 

Chan also pointed out that biometrics data are not protected and security footage is not regulated under Hong Kong’s privacy ordinance. He suggested government should extend the definition of personal information and to cover localations and security footage when it comes to identification. 

Chan encouraged adding a “sensitive personal information” category as well, so that sensitive information would only only be handled under special circumstances.