By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is monitoring reports about the proliferation of alleged impostor Facebook (FB) accounts that have victimized Filipino data subjects.
A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
“While the extent of these incidents are not yet fully determined at this time, we have been receiving reports from different sectors, mostly coming from academic institutions,” Liboro said in a statement.
Liboro said that NPC had immediately brought the reported incidents to Facebook's attention.
He added that Facebook representative in the Philippines Clare Amador said that they are already investigating this particular matter as well as other information on unauthorized FB accounts.
Meanwhile, the Privacy Commissioner has instructed Facebook to report its significant findings as soon as it becomes available.
In addition, NPC urged everyone to report alleged impostor accounts to Facebook through https://www.facebook.com/help/report.
At least three schools -- San Beda University, University of the Philippines (UP), and De La Salle University (DLSU) -- have reported impostor FB accounts of their students, teachers and alumni.
Some individuals have also reported that their FB accounts have been hacked.
As of this posting, NPC said only San Beda has reported the breach of its students' personal information.
The UP System, however, has confirmed receiving reports that fake or dummy Facebook accounts have been created using the data of UP students, officials, and alumni.
“We urge the members of the UP community to check their names and accounts and to make the proper report to the Data Protection Officer of Facebook,” UP said in a statement.
The UP System Data Protection Officer has already reached out to the NPC to help students and alumni report fake or dummy accounts in their name to Facebook.
DLSU also urged its members to be vigilant in line with the creation of empty or fake FB accounts.
“Postings from these accounts are unauthorized and do not reflect the views and position of the institution,” DLSU said in a statement.
READ MORE: UP reminds students and alumni to doublecheck if names have been used as dummy accounts
A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
“While the extent of these incidents are not yet fully determined at this time, we have been receiving reports from different sectors, mostly coming from academic institutions,” Liboro said in a statement.
Liboro said that NPC had immediately brought the reported incidents to Facebook's attention.
He added that Facebook representative in the Philippines Clare Amador said that they are already investigating this particular matter as well as other information on unauthorized FB accounts.
Meanwhile, the Privacy Commissioner has instructed Facebook to report its significant findings as soon as it becomes available.
In addition, NPC urged everyone to report alleged impostor accounts to Facebook through https://www.facebook.com/help/report.
At least three schools -- San Beda University, University of the Philippines (UP), and De La Salle University (DLSU) -- have reported impostor FB accounts of their students, teachers and alumni.
Some individuals have also reported that their FB accounts have been hacked.
As of this posting, NPC said only San Beda has reported the breach of its students' personal information.
The UP System, however, has confirmed receiving reports that fake or dummy Facebook accounts have been created using the data of UP students, officials, and alumni.
“We urge the members of the UP community to check their names and accounts and to make the proper report to the Data Protection Officer of Facebook,” UP said in a statement.
The UP System Data Protection Officer has already reached out to the NPC to help students and alumni report fake or dummy accounts in their name to Facebook.
DLSU also urged its members to be vigilant in line with the creation of empty or fake FB accounts.
“Postings from these accounts are unauthorized and do not reflect the views and position of the institution,” DLSU said in a statement.
READ MORE: UP reminds students and alumni to doublecheck if names have been used as dummy accounts