MMDA Official Faces Data Privacy Act Violation Over Unconsented Video Upload

Gabriel Go, who heads the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) special operations group-strike force, is facing potential charges for violating the Data Privacy Act after uploading a video of his encounter with a teacher without the latter’s consent. The National Privacy Commission (NPC) stated that Go may have violated provisions of Republic Act 10173, or the Data Privacy Act. NPC deputy privacy commissioner Jose Amelito Belarmino told ABS-CBN, "If the person objects to the uploading, then there could be a potential violation, especially if the uploader could not justify his action." Belarmino clarified that it does not matter if the teacher’s face was blurred in the video, as long as the individual did not consent to its online upload. Joseph Noel Estrada, managing director and legal counsel for the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), echoed this sentiment. He explained that blurring a person’s face constitutes "pseudonymization, not anonymization." Estrada further elaborated that blurred footage is still legally classified as personal information because the process is often reversible and individuals remain identifiable through context or original files. Consequently, he stressed that the core principles of data privacy – transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality – must be strictly observed. Critics of Go claim he posted the video on his personal social media account. Belarmino suggested that if the MMDA’s objective was to educate the public about obeying traffic rules, the agency could have instead posted instructional videos on its official social media accounts. The MMDA has barred Go from joining clearing operations while an investigation is ongoing. Go had previously faced criticism last year for berating a police captain over a parking violation in Quezon City. Information source: Philstar Nation