Legislation among options to regulate minors’ social media use: justice minister
Hong Kong is considering new legislation to regulate minors’ use of social media and artificial intelligence platforms as part of a broader effort to protect children from harmful online content. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting kwok said legislation is one of several options being examined following Chief Executive John Lee Ka chiu’s announcement of a dedicated government task force.
The interdepartmental task force, led by the Department of Justice, will assess the risks children face when using social media and AI services and determine whether legislative or administrative changes are necessary. Lam stressed that regulation does not necessarily have to rely solely on legislation. Authorities could combine laws with guidelines, codes of conduct, education and public awareness initiatives. New guidance for parents and teachers could also form part of the approach.
The government intends to study approaches adopted internationally. Australia introduced restrictions preventing children under 16 from holding accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, with responsibility for compliance placed on social media companies rather than children or parents. Similar restrictions have subsequently been proposed in countries including the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Denmark. Hong Kong plans to examine the effectiveness and practical implementation of these models before determining its own approach.
Lam rejected concerns that new restrictions would necessarily undermine individual freedoms. He said any legislation would have to comply with rights protected under Hong Kong’s Basic Law and argued that the objective would be child protection rather than limiting freedom. Authorities are particularly concerned about minors being exposed to pornography, violent material and other harmful online content.
Artificial intelligence is another major focus of the review. The government has identified AI related crime, including deepfake pornography, as an important area requiring stronger governance. Lam said he is working with the Law Reform Commission’s cybercrime subcommittee to accelerate its examination of these issues, gather public feedback and develop recommendations.
Although existing Hong Kong laws can already address some AI enabled offences, such as scams, the government believes more targeted legislation may be necessary as technology develops. Authorities are also separately examining questions of legal responsibility when accidents or harm are caused by AI based products. The government plans to consult manufacturers, AI developers, consumers and other stakeholders while studying approaches adopted in other jurisdictions.
