The National Privacy Commission said the Covid-19 apps being rolled out by the government and the private sector will only be effective if these solutions will allow users to share information without fear of misuse or discrimination.
NPC chair Raymund Liboro emphasized, however, that the disclosure should be limited to the necessary medical information and should be made only to the proper authorities.
The National Privacy Commission stressed that even in times of calamity or a state of a public health emergency, privacy rights “remain in effect and upholding them equate to protecting lives.”
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has reminded government offices to avoid burdening recipients with personal data requirements that are beyond the minimum necessary, which would only impede the speedy flow of aid distribution.
NPC chair Raymund Liboro said there have been incidents in which self-styled “social vigilantes” doused chemicals on health workers, expelled them from boarding houses, or refused them lodging and even barred them from taking tricycles on their way to work or home.
The government agencies said now is the worst possible time to fall victim to online fraudsters as they can steal sensitive data, cause financial, and reputational damages, and make devices unusable.
Today, as we are in community quarantine and as we practice social distancing, telemedicine may be the answer to the need of patients seeking consult but unable to travel or unwilling to take the risk of additional exposure to the novel coronavirus.
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) said the Data Privacy Act is clear in its provisions that personal information can only be collected when it is necessary and that it should only be disclosed to the proper authority.
The NPC said revealing the identities of Covid-19 patients to the public or providing information that could accurately identify people who are under investigation or have contracted the disease is counter-productive and could do more harm than good.
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is extending until August 31, 2020 the validity of the registration of Personal Information Controllers (PICs) and Personal Information Processors (PIPs) to make way for a new automated system to be launched in July.
