The Personal Data (Privacy) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 came into effect today to combat malicious doxxing acts so as to protect the public's personal data privacy.

Published in the Gazette, the ordinance criminalises doxxing acts and empowers the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data to carry out criminal investigations and institute prosecution towards doxxing-related offences.

It also confers on the commissioner statutory powers to issue notices demanding the cessation or restriction of disclosure of doxxing content.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data also published in the Gazette today the implementation guidelines for criminal investigation and prosecution of doxxing-related offences, issue of cessation notices, as well as the ranks of officers authorised with the above powers.