NPC reminds public to be ‘responsible’ for sharing photos, videos online

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Thursday, Jan. 11, urged the public to be “responsible” when sharing photos and videos online that contain personal information.

The advisory is grounded in Republic Act No. 10173 also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA).

According to this law, the processing or sharing of photos and videos containing personal information must have a lawful basis and adhere to the general data privacy principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality.

“Unlawful processing of personal data is a violation of the DPA with corresponding administrative fines and criminal penalties as may be applicable,” NPC said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the body underscored the risks associated with sharing personal information, particularly those containing sensitive content that “can be exploited by malicious actors for identity theft, fraud, or other illegal activities.”

“Sharing sensitive content online may expose individuals to cyberbullying, harassment, or stalking,” NPC noted.

Last November 2023, the Philippines was tagged as the top country with the highest scam rate among 11 Asian countries, leading the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to launch an online campaign to disseminate online scam awareness to the public.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/23/ph-records-highest-shopping-scam-rate-among-11-asian-countries

Moreover, the NPC emphasized the importance of respecting data subject rights, especially within social media platforms.

“As individuals engage online, they must exercise caution and be responsible in safeguarding their own and other people’s data privacy rights,” NPC explained.

Furthermore, the NPC assured the public that its commitment to uphold the principles of the DPA will be “relentless” in enforcing the law to ensure the protection of every Filipino’s data subject rights.

“It is important for all individuals to adhere to the provisions of the DPA and exercise utmost diligence in sharing and reposting content on social media,” NPC added.