First published: 13th March 2008
The Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry Co Ltd has announced that it will be issuing certificates to shops that agree to follow its Code of Practice on handling customer data stored on computers sent for repair. The voluntary campaign comes in the wake of the celebrity nude photo scandal that attracted a lot of attention last month.
The Chamber plans to list registered shops on its website, and provide the list to the Consumer Council. It is said that the Code of Practice advises repair workers to get the customer's permission before backing up the data, and erasing the data completely after the computer was fixed. It also requires repair shops to record their technician's work to ensure they abide by the guidelines. However, neither the list of registered shops nor the Code of Practice was on the Chamber's website at the time of writing.
At best, this Code of Practice can prevent accidental data leaks, and might, in some circumstances, make it easier to trace the source of a leak. However, it cannot prevent malicious leaks, especially in high-value cases. When you hand over your broken computer, you are putting your trust in the technician and this Code of Practice does not guarantee their personal integrity.