The Philippine National Privacy Commission (NPC) recently issued NPC Circular No. 2020-02 on the Rules on the Issuance of Cease and Desist Orders (Circular). The Circular applies to all applications for a Cease-and- Desist Order (CDO) on the processing of personal data and other matters cognizable by the NPC.

To ensure the lawful processing of personal data in the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV)1 systems, the Philippine National Privacy Commission (NPC) released on 16 November 2020, Advisory No. 2020-04 on the “Guidelines on the Use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Systems” (Advisory). The Advisory guides personal information controllers (PICs) and personal information processors (PIPs) in the processing of personal data via CCTV systems used in public or semi-public places, as well as in responding to requests by the data subject or by third parties for disclosure of CCTV footage. The Advisory applies to CCTV systems with either video and audio capabilities or those which only record videos. Lawful surveillance conducted by law enforcement agencies and other government agencies, however, are not covered by the Advisory.