Legislation among options to regulate minors’ social media use: justice minister

Hong Kong's Justice Minister, Paul Lam Ting-kwok, mentioned that enacting legislation to regulate minors' social media use is one of the options being considered, as per the recently disclosed policy address. Following Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's announcement of a task force to evaluate the issue on September 16, Lam addressed concerns over potential infringements on individual rights and freedoms, stressing that the objective was to safeguard children from harmful content like pornography.

The interdepartmental team, led by the Department of Justice, would assess the risks associated with minors' use of social media and AI platforms and determine if legislative and administrative adjustments are necessary. Lam claimed that there are various methods to encourage responsible social media usage, such as guidelines, education, and public relations, which could operate concurrently.

He also hinted at the possibility of guidelines for parents and teachers who bear supervisory responsibilities but did not disclose specific measures or predict the task force's conclusions. While discussing the potential impact on individual rights, Lam assured that all legislation would align with Hong Kong's Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution, and emphasized that the government's intention was to protect children from risks such as pornographic materials and violent ideas.

The justice minister also expressed his intention to consult the Law Reform Commission's cybercrime subcommittee to prioritize and expedite the review process, acknowledging that legal reform typically requires time.