by Jade Saavedra, Correspondent
Leading fintech giant GCash has partnered with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to launch a data privacy campaign aimed at educating millions of users and ensuring they are complying with the Data Privacy Act (DPA).
Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed last March 13, GCash has since updated its platform by introducing educational resources and features to promote the campaign.
‘Ren-ren’ Reyes (left), president and CEO of G-Xchange Inc., with Atty. John Henry Naga of NPC
“Through this partnership, we’ve integrated NPC’s privacy awareness and educational materials directly into our app, making them readily available to our users. By embedding the NPC registration portal in the application, we’ve also simplified compliance with privacy laws, fostering transparency and responsible data handling for our users,” said Oscar Enrico ‘Ren-ren’ Reyes, the President and CEO of G-Xchange Inc.
GCash creating greater accessibility for users
As data infringements and online scams become more prevalent, many Filipinos who are uneducated about their privacy rights remain vulnerable. The GCash-NPC partnership aims to bridge this knowledge gap by utilizing GCash as a medium to make data privacy education more accessible.
To establish the campaign, GCash has integrated various resources on its platform to create greater accessibility for users. Educational materials provided by the NPC can be found under the “privacy choices” feature, which presents information regarding multi-factor authentication, password safety, online banking apps, personal data, and more.
The platform’s virtual assistant, Gigi, is also available to answer any questions consumers may have regarding privacy and personal data.
Additionally, users will also be linked to the NPC’s registration portal to facilitate compliance for entities processing personal data. This feature, in particular, will streamline registration processes, benefiting businesses and other entities processing personal data.
Prioritizing online safety
As a major local fintech player, GCash has been prioritizing online safety and is now using its platform to make privacy education more accessible to millions of Filipinos.
This public-private collaboration highlights fintech’s role in strengthening cybersecurity and empowering Filipinos with data privacy knowledge. Specifically, this collaboration emphasizes the importance of government and private sector partnerships in building a secure and transparent digital financial ecosystem moving forward.
NPC Commissioner John Henry Naga emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness and education, stating, “We look forward to implementing robust measures to increase awareness of data privacy by providing the tools and knowledge that Filipinos need to make informed decisions in safeguarding their personal information. Through public-private collaborations, we aim to foster a secure digital environment for all.”
GCash is working with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center to combat online fraud and scams. Through biometric authentication, real-time transaction monitoring, and other advanced security features, GCash further enforces its consumer protection. This collaboration is an extension of the fintech giant’s commitment to enhancing digital security across the financial ecosystem.
As the Philippines evolves with the ever-changing digital age, campaigns like these are imperative in ensuring that innovation does not come at the cost of consumer protection. The collaboration between the private and public sectors is critical in ensuring that these online platforms continue to work toward empowering Filipino consumers both financially and digitally.
By equipping users with education and accessibility, life-changing knowledge is made available to all. Additionally, as consumers are introduced to the digital space, understanding their data privacy rights and regulations is essential in contributing to a safe financial and digital environment between users, businesses, and governments.
With GCash and NPC leading the way, Filipino users can expect a more secure and privacy-conscious financial landscape in the years to come.