NPC issues show cause orders vs Meta, Roblox, Reddit, Discord

• Courtesy of Meta, Reddit, Roblox, Discord

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has issued Show Cause Orders against Meta, Roblox, Reddit, and Discord over alleged non-compliance with registration requirements under the country’s data privacy rules.

In a statement on Monday, Sept. 22, the NPC said the orders were issued in connection with the platforms’ compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and NPC Circular 2022-04.

The commission said the action forms part of its continuing enforcement of data protection rules as digital platforms become increasingly integrated into the daily lives of Filipinos, particularly children and young people.

The NPC said it is intensifying its compliance monitoring and investigation of digital platforms that process the personal data of individuals in the Philippines.

NPC

As part of the initiative, the commission will assess whether platforms comply with requirements covering registration, transparency, lawful processing, data subject rights, accountability, and appropriate organizational, physical, and technical security measures.

“The NPC will take appropriate regulatory action against entities found to be non-compliant with data protection laws, rules, and regulations,” the commission said.

The NPC stressed that the initiative is also aimed at strengthening the protection of minors’ personal data as learning and social interaction increasingly take place both in physical and digital spaces.

“It is NPC’s position that the safety, privacy, and overall well-being of our youth must always come first,” it said.

The commission called on digital platforms, government agencies, parents, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to work together in creating digital environments that respect privacy and protect personal information.

It added that organizations processing personal data must be held accountable and ensure that the rights of data subjects under Philippine data protection law are respected.