Govt to ban desktop WhatsApp on computers in offices
The Hong Kong government recently issued IT security guidelines internally, mandating employees to obtain approval before using desktop versions of WhatsApp, Gmail, and cloud software in the office. Departments are required to act or develop implementation plans by the end of October, including the setup of private clouds and communication software.
Some government employees have expressed concerns that these measures might impact work efficiency. In response, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Sun Dong, acknowledged on a radio program today (Oct. 22) that while these measures will indeed cause inconvenience, they are necessary due to significant security risks. He believes that departments will find alternative solutions.
Sun explained that the past year has seen severe computer intrusions within the government, emphasizing the substantial security risks associated with using instant messaging systems on government computers. The authorities have thus adopted practices common among governments globally, including those in Mainland China and the USA, which involve stricter regulations for internal computer systems. He noted that mobile devices are currently not restricted and expressed confidence that solutions will outnumber the difficulties.
Regarding the civil service document assistance AI system, he reported good progress with more than ten government departments currently using it for writing, translating, and organizing documents. The plan is to expand its use to all government departments by the end of the year. The self-developed system supports Cantonese and domestically produced CPUs.
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