Hong Kong's government is considering introducing legislation to regulate social media use among minors as part of efforts to protect children from harmful content, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said on Wednesday. The move follows Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address earlier this month, which announced the formation of a task force dedicated to reviewing the risks associated with minors’ use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms.
The interdepartmental task force, led by the Department of Justice, will evaluate whether new legislative or administrative measures are necessary to address these challenges. Lam emphasized that legal intervention is only one of several options under consideration, alongside guidelines, codes of conduct, educational initiatives, and public awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging responsible social media use under appropriate supervision.
“We have a range of tools—from hard law to soft law, education, and public relations—and these measures can operate in parallel,” Lam stated, adding that new guidelines for parents and educators, who bear supervisory responsibilities, could be introduced. However, he declined to provide specific details before the task force completes its assessment.
The discussion takes place as several countries worldwide consider or have enacted restrictions on minors’ access to social media. Notably, Australia became the first to implement a ban last November prohibiting children under 16 from opening new accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Similar proposals have been put forward in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Denmark. Lam indicated that Hong Kong would study these international examples and their effectiveness but acknowledged that no global consensus on regulation exists.
Addressing concerns about potential infringements on individual rights and freedoms, Lam reassured that any legislation would comply with rights protected under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, stressing that the objective is not to limit freedom but to shield children from exposure to harmful materials, including pornography and violent content.
The government's broader approach also includes tackling AI-related risks highlighted in the recent policy address, such as AI-enabled crimes including deepfake pornography. Lam said he is cooperating with the Law Reform Commission’s cybercrime subcommittee to fast-track a review of these issues and gather public input. While existing laws can address some AI-related crimes like scams, Lam noted the necessity of developing more specialized legislation to keep pace with rapid technological change.
Additionally, the government plans to establish a separate task force to examine legal liability for accidents caused by AI products. The first meeting of this body is expected to take place this year, although Lam declined to provide a timeline, citing the complexity of the subject and a need for careful consultation with stakeholders and reference to international practices.
In a separate comment during the interview, Lam, who was among officials recently removed from a U.S. sanctions list, emphasized the importance of fostering foreign confidence in Hong Kong’s rule of law. While refraining from confirming any plans to visit the United States, he expressed willingness to engage internationally where mutual consent exists, underscoring Hong Kong’s status as an international city and the value of dialogue despite differing viewpoints.