NPC summons 67 online lenders over alleged privacy breach

MANILA, Philippines — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has ordered 67 online lenders to explain alleged violations of the Data Privacy Act.

In an order published yesterday, NPC said officials of companies operating the following online lending apps are directed to appear for a summary hearing on Oct 15.: Cashalo, Akulaku, Batis Loan, Cash bus, Cash flyer, Cash loan, Cash moto, Cash to go, Cash warm, Cashafin, Cashaku, Cashaso, Cashmoney loan, Cashope, Cashwhale, Crazy Loan, Credit coin, Credit peso, Crutchpil, First lending, Flash cash, Happy cash, Hello papaya, JK Quick Cash Lending, Kwago, Lalapeso (Mintwagon Lending Corp.), Lending Cash, Light credit, Loan champ, Loan motto, Loan wallet; Mabilis cash, Mango cash, Mango loan, Mcmpire, Megaloan, MF cash (Microdot Lending Corp.), Moola lending, One cash, Online loans Pilipinas, Pautang peso, Pera advance, Pera express, Pera lending, Pera Pocket (Rainbow Cash), Pera4u, Peso legend, Peso lending, Peso now, Peso online, Peso Q, Peso to Go, Peso tree, Peso wallet, Peso.ph, Peso2go, Pesomine, Pesos ph, Pesos.ph, Pinoy cash, Pinoy peso, Pondo pocket, QCash, Sell loan, Super cash, Super peso and Utang pesos.

“Based on reports from our complaints and investigation division, the published list are those apps whose corporate names, physical addresses, or email addresses cannot be identified for purposes of service of orders or notices,” NPC deputy commissioner Leandro Angelo Aguirre said in a text message.

NPC is calling on the officials of the foregoing as the body received complaints against the online lending apps for alleged violations of the privacy law.

Complainants have reported that personal information from their mobile contact list were collected and used by the companies to contact third persons without their consent.

In addition, personal information about the data subjects were disclosed to third persons which included friends, relatives, co-workers and the superior of the borrower. In some instances, the third persons were told they were identified by the borrowers as co-makers or character references or they were asked to settle the loan in behalf of the borrowers.

NPC said complainants have also reported the online lending apps used borrowers’ contact list to embarrass, harass, threaten or coerce them to settle their loans.

Based on the complaints, the companies likewise used intrusive methods to process personal information which included posting in social media of personal or sensitive information about the borrower or threatening the borrowers’ contacts.