About News News Jobsdb Media Statement on Data Privacy for Private Advertiser Ads

Jobsdb Media Statement on Data Privacy for Private Advertiser Ads

The data privacy and security of our customers is a key priority at Jobsdb, and we take extensive measures to protect our data and the data of our stakeholders.

What Happened?

On 9 December 2024, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) announced the findings of its investigation into the posting of blind job advertisements by eight organisations on our Jobsdb platform. 

Jobsdb allows employers to recruit confidentially as a “Private Advertiser” for various reasons, such as advertising for a position before the incumbent employee has vacated the role.

However, when paired with our "Quick Apply" function, it was found that job ads from Private Advertisers led to the unfair collection of job seekers' personal data, including their name, contact details, and resumes. This occurred because applicants submitted personal information to employers they could not readily identify, which limited the candidates’ ability to exercise certain privacy rights, such as contacting the Private Advertiser to access and correct their data. 

We recognise that concerns can arise regarding how personal data is collected and used in ads posted by Private Advertisers. Throughout the investigation, we have consistently and collaboratively worked with the PCPD to respond to its queries and offer remedial solutions.

We accept the PCPD's findings and are committed to continuing close collaboration with the PCPD in the future to improve our processes to ensure the privacy and security of our candidates’ and hirers' data.

What We Are Doing

  1. Temporarily cease posting of Private Advertiser job ads: Since November 2024, we have proactively paused the posting of Private Advertiser job ads on Jobsdb. All employers are required to disclose their company's name along with verified contact information in their advertisements for the benefit of applicants. Furthermore, we have enhanced internal staff guidelines and training to ensure compliance with the Privacy Ordinance, thereby safeguarding user rights and preventing the unfair collection of personal data.

  2. Removal of "Quick Apply” feature for future Private Advertiser job ads: We understand that some employers may still wish to post ads as a Private Advertiser for confidentiality reasons. To continue connecting employers with candidates while safeguarding applicants' data, we will reinstate the ability for employers in Hong Kong to post ads as a Private Advertiser from 12 December 2024. However, we will remove the "Quick Apply” feature for these ads to prevent employers from directly accessing applicants' personal information without revealing their identity. ⁠Candidates can contact Private Advertisers directly through the verified contact information provided in the job postings to seek clarification regarding the identity of the Advertiser before sharing their resume (or other personal information) to apply for the role.

  3. Email notification to relevant applicants: We will notify the applicants relevant to this matter via email, informing them of their right to request the deletion of their relevant personal data from our system. If there are any questions, applicants can also contact Jobsdb through our customer service hotline at +852 2332 8832.

⁠The privacy and security of our candidates and hirers are of utmost importance to us. We have a dedicated Trust & Safety team working tirelessly to keep our customers’ information safe and we constantly invest in new technology to stay ahead of the latest developments. For example, in the past year we introduced enhanced multi-factor authentication for hirers, which has reduced instances of improper access to hirer accounts. We also carry out detailed checks and procedures to ensure hirers are legitimate and job ads are genuine, including manually verifying all hirers who post job ads directly on our platform. (For more information on the steps we take to keep our platform safe, please refer to SEEK’s Sustainability Report.)

Jobsdb is committed to being transparent about how we collect, use, and manage personal data and ensuring compliance with all relevant privacy laws. The candidates’ personal data that we collect – including their current role, industry, and the types of jobs they look for – is only used in connection with the services we provide, as disclosed in our privacy statement. We do not share personal data with third parties, other than as disclosed in our privacy statement or as permitted by law. We will continue to work closely with the PCPD to ensure our practices meet all relevant privacy obligations.

We regret any inconvenience or impact this situation may have caused and will continue to prioritise our customers’ data privacy and trust as we move forward with these changes. 

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About Jobsdb by SEEK ⁠Jobsdb is a leading employment marketplace, connecting the right people with the right work in Hong Kong since 1998. Operated by SEEK, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company, Jobsdb combines its deep local expertise with SEEK’s world-class AI technology and platform to create relevant job and talent matches across Asia Pacific. For more information, visit www.jobsdb.com

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