NPC probes Facebook after Cambridge Analytica scandal

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Friday announced that it has launched an investigation on Facebook following the admission of the company’s faults in the Cambridge Analytica data breach.

Facebook had earlier said that 1.2 million Filipinos were among 87 million users worldwide whose data was “improperly shared” by Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm.

The NPC said it has sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as it launched “an investigation into Facebook to determine whether there is unauthorized processing of personal data of Filipinos, and other possible violations of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

“We write with concern as regards your admission that Facebook has been remiss in its duty to protect its users’ personal data. The identification of 1.18 million Filipinos who may have been affected by the Cambridge Analytica is alarming and may be a symptom of a deeper problem that could pose risks to Filipino Facebook users,” the letter read.

“As the Philippine data privacy authority, we are directing you to furnish this Commission with information relevant to the processing of Facebook data of affected Filipinos, and how personal data is generally shared with third parties using your platform,” it added.

The letter was signed by Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro and deputy commissioners Ivy Patdu and Leandro Aguirre.  /je