NPC to conduct data privacy probe on GCash glitch

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) will step into the system error that hit several users of Globe and Alibaba-backed mobile wallet GCash to determine whether or not personal data were compromised in the glitch.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NPC disclosed that GCash informed the privacy body about the incident on November 11, 2024 at 12:35 a.m.

In its notice, GCash said that there was no data leakage or personal data breach involved in the recent incident involving alleged unauthorized transactions leading to lost funds of GCash user accounts, according to the NPC.

“Although GCash has stated that there was no compromise of customer credentials or data in the incident, the NPC will still conduct an independent investigation in line with its mandate to administer and implement the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA),” it said.

“This investigation will verify the absence of a personal data breach, ensuring transparency and accountability in the protection of GCash users' personal information,” it added.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday said it will look deeper into the system error that hit several users of GCash, operated by G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), who reported unauthorized deductions on their account balances. 

Several GCash users on Saturday raised a howl on social media over thousands of pesos lost, which the e-wallet platform said were “errors” in a system reconciliation process.

On Sunday, Gcash said that it had completed the necessary wallet adjustments for users who experienced unauthorized transactions.

“The NPC emphasizes that its authority is focused on the protection of personal data, as defined under the DPA. For concerns related to the monetary aspect of these transactions, users are advised to direct their queries to the appropriate financial regulatory agency,” the privacy body said.

“We urge individuals who may have been affected by this incident to reach out to the NPC through info@privacy.gov.ph and provide relevant information to assist with our investigation,” it said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News