‘Data privacy awareness among Filipinos rising’

MANILA, Philippines — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has noted rising data privacy awareness among Filipinos, as it continues boosting its efforts to ensure that companies and organizations in the private as well as the government sectors are safeguarding the personal data of Filipino “data subjects” under their custody.

Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro said that data privacy and protection should be a priority in the private and government sectors since this service would be demanded as a right by Filipino data subjects who are aware that entities entrusted with their personal data should ensure that these are safeguarded.

This rising privacy awareness could be seen in the number of complaints about alleged data privacy violations, according to Liboro.

“It’s increasing,” he told The STAR.

Liboro said that last year, the NPC recorded 862 cases filed on complaints of alleged data privacy violation.

“We’re just five months into the year, but we now have more than 800 filed before us,” he said.

The NPC yesterday formed a coalition of data protection officers from the government and the private sector to form a united front to strengthen the protection of data of digital Filipinos.

The formation of the coalition was the highlight of the opening ceremony of the 2nd annual National Data Privacy Conference (NDPC) held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The NPC organized the gathering as it spearheads the celebration of Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) on May 25-31.

“Our common goal of ensuring data privacy in today’s radically changing technology landscape can only be won as a community, where the government and businesses align resources to safeguard the data subject’s interests,” Liboro said in his opening remarks yesterday.

Serving as the NPC’s flagship event to launch this year’s PAW, the NDPC harps on the theme “Datos ng Pilipino, Protektado ko!” (Protecting the Digital Filipino: Accountability, Compliance and Ethics in a Data-Driven Philippines), which is an appeal to institutions and individuals who process personal information to fully embrace their accountability, aim for maximized compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and observe high ethical standards.

In response to this appeal, executives from various government agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police pledged their support for the NPC’s covenant of unity for the protection of the digital Filipino.

They were joined by Laban Konsyumer, an advocacy group assisting consumers on protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable acts and practices.

The covenant is calling for a unified front toward safeguarding the modern Filipino’s right to prosper, protecting their personal data and promoting their basic rights – all while equipping the public with the knowledge that will enable them to defend themselves against fraudsters and other data privacy violators.

Altogether, these are envisioned to culminate in a peaceful, secure and technologically aware Philippines.