#privacy

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has released a new set of guidelines concerning the use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) and alternative recording devices (ARDs) by law enforcement and other entities. (The NPC clarifies that this exemption does not override the fundamental right to privacy.) Persons using BWCs or ARDs must ensure transparency by providing clear privacy notices—both physically (e.g., signage or device indicators) and digitally (e.g., online privacy policies). Vloggers who record and publish footage that captures other individuals must provide privacy notices and ensure to mask bystanders’ identities, especially children and vulnerable persons. Violations of the Circular carry potential criminal, civil, and administrative penalties under the Data Privacy Act. Agencies have 60 days from effectivity to comply, and the NPC will conduct regular reviews to keep the guidelines current with evolving technology and privacy best practices. Google is taking strides in ensuring the safety and privacy of its users with the implementation of "unknown tracker alerts" for Android devices. Whatsapp keeps improving its privacy features for its users, starting with last December’s hiding of a user’s online status from a stranger which is in default, now they’re rolling out a feature to let users hide a last seen status and leave a group chat silently. Read more in our articles including "Instagram removes end-to-end encryption for DMs" and "Meta adds new features to protect older users from online scams".