Hong Kong SFC Joins Global Crackdown on Unlawful Financial Influencers

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has joined a global coalition of securities regulators to combat the unlawful activities of financial influencers, or "finfluencers." A total of 17 members of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), including the SFC, are participating in this year's coordinated regulatory initiative.

The initiative aims to disrupt unlawful finfluencer activities through a range of measures, from enforcement and supervision to investor education. Over the past year, the SFC has taken robust action, cooperating with social media platforms to remove suspicious content and profiles engaged in unlicensed activities.

Key outcomes from the SFC's efforts include securing a custodial sentence against a convicted finfluencer, issuing a compliance advice letter regarding unlicensed promotion of virtual asset platforms, and submitting 12 reports concerning 33 suspicious posts or accounts to social media platforms since July 2025. Over 90% of the reported content was promptly removed.

To enhance detection, the SFC launched an AI-powered social media monitoring system called SENSOR in Q3 2025. The regulator also focuses on preventative measures and investor education, working closely with the Hong Kong Police Force and other authorities to share intelligence on emerging scams.

The SFC's outreach extends to diverse community groups. In March 2026, it partnered with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong to conduct fraud prevention sessions for university students and senior citizens.

The global scope of the initiative is demonstrated by the participation of numerous other IOSCO members, including regulators from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.