Cyber libel complaint vs CDO journalist dismissed; messages involving public concerns do not violate Data Privacy Act
A cyber libel complaint against a journalist in Cagayan de Oro was dismissed, with the ruling finding that messages related to public concerns do not constitute a violation of the Data Privacy Act.
Why this matters: This matters for anyone who covers public officials or shares information about matters of public concern in the Philippines. The Data Privacy Act is a real law with real teeth, and complaints under it have been used to pressure journalists. A dismissal on these grounds pushes back on that. It draws a line between legitimate privacy protection and using privacy law as a tool to silence reporting. That line is worth defending.
Who should care: Lawyers · Privacy officers · Compliance · General readers · Policy
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