Grab Philippines said on Thursday, Feb. 6, that it has suspended its passenger selfie feature and as the pilot study for in-car audio and video recording in compliance with an order from the National Privacy Commission (NPC).
The NPC has issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) to Grab Philippines after finding deficiencies in complying with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 for three personal data processing systems, which may endanger the privacy rights of the riding public.
Grab Philippines said on-demand and platform-based motorcycle taxis are “effectively competing” with Grab, as withdrawing motorcycle taxis would limit consumer choices on transportation.
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) on Friday, January 24, officially threw its support behind the use of motorcycle (MC) taxis as a mode of public transportation and the adoption of a “multi-homing” policy to allow drivers to choose which platform to offer their services.
The TWG is expected to complete the pilot study by March 2020, and other issues agreed upon include the implementation of a revised cap of the participants, and the expansion of the pilot areas to include Cagayan de Oro.
Despite getting heavily criticized by lawmakers during the Senate hearing on Monday, Jan. 20, the Technical Working Group (TWG) on motorcycle taxis appears firm on its position to terminate its pilot test and apprehend riders from motorcycle-riding apps.
A Mandaluyong City RTC has denied the petition filed “Angkas” for another TRO on the issuance of a permanent injunction on the implementation of the revised guidelines for the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxis.
The trial run will involve over 180 GrabCar vehicles, of which half will be equipped with in-car cameras and the rest with audio-recording capabilities.
This after Angkas filed a petition before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court asking for the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the imposition of a cap on the number of participating riders in the government's pilot run on the use of motorcycles as taxis, and the apprehension of "excess riders" as stated in the program's revised guidelines.
The Technical Working Group in charge of the motorcycle taxi pilot run said Angkas may be disqualified from operating because of numerous infractions such as operating outside of Metro Manila and charging surge rates.
