DATA PRIVACY ACT OF 2012

The Philippines has increasing and significant information technology and technology-related
fields. According to the Department of Information Communication and Technology, the IT
expenditure of the Philippines will reach $5.1 trillion in 2019 and $8.1 trillion by 2023 and the
projected growth rate for this era is 12.1 percent per annum. The Philippines is one of the most
active heavy users of social media because of the 55.9 million Filipino social media users and
once again been recognized as one of the world’s social media capitals. In different social media
platforms, there are 44 million Facebook users, 9.5 million Twitter users (rank 10 in the world)
and 10.3 million Instagram users in the Phillippines. In the context of the rapid growth of the
digital economy and increasing international trade of data, the Philippines has strengthened its
privacy and security protections because of the implementation of the REPUBLIC ACT NO.
10173 also known as the data privacy act of 2012.
The Philippine passed the RA No. 10173 and data protection legislation 2012, to
safeguard the fundamental human rights of privacy and communication while ensuring the free
flow of data to support innovation and development, the Philippines adopted in 2012 the Data
Privacy Act 2012 (Republic Law No. 10173, ch. 1, sec. 2). It is also the establishment of a
National Data Protection Commission, which implements and monitors and is endowed with
regulatory powers. The final rules and regulations on implementation, adding specificity to the
Display Act, went into force on 9 September 2016. The rapidly growing business process
outsourcing (BPO) sector of the Philippines is set to benefit from the Data Privacy Act or
Republic Act 10173 as it aims to protect personal digital data of private and public entities,
specifically those that are dealing with offshore businesses. Moreover, having reinforced data
privacy processes will help pave the way for better business practices in companies and more
opportunities in attracting potential investors. Although RA 10173 has a disadvantage not only
for long-term Internet users but also for newbies using the Internet, as well as any kind of
information media. Ordinary Filipinos, particularly people with computer illiteracy or who are
unable to access or rarely use computers or equipment capable of the store and transmit sensitive
private data, may be prosecuted at Philippine courts because of inappropriate use of data or
negligence. What is most alarming are the penalty provisions saying that everyone may be
punished for imprisonment and fined for access to private data from another person or entity in
enormous proportions. Even if she/he did not mean to access this private data.
The growing technology areas, particularly in the field of IT, offer customers or users
enormous possibilities. These modifications and progress meet the requirements and
requirements of IT and even ordinary citizens and because of the growing number of customers,
the state must safeguard all the privacy and freedoms and information of the individuals involved
in the sector. One key to prevent any misuse of others in a piece of personal private information
is the implementation of law comparable to the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Although most of the
people have a benefit from the implementation of the Data privacy act, some people could affect
especially those people who computer illiterate and didn’t know about the said law or negligence
on the law itself.