Four online lending apps that were ordered to close due to unauthorized use of data were taken down from the Google Play Store on Wednesday, the National Privacy Commission said.
JuanHand, Pesopop, CashJeep, and Lemon Loan were removed from the Play Store for posing serious privacy risks to individuals who download the apps, the NPC said.
Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro urged other online lending apps to use lawful and reasonable methods when processing data of loan applicants.
“For other OLAs, the NPC strongly urges you to employ know-your-customer and debt collection practices that are aligned with NPC Circular No. 20-01, where we laid out guidelines on the processing of personal data for loan-related transactions,” he added.
According to the NPC, the apps have access to information on the borrowers' mobile devices such as contacts, location, media files, e-mails, and social media data from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google that could be weaponized to harass and shame delinquent clients before contacts in order to collect debt.
NPC directed app operators Wefund Lending Corp., Joywin Lending Investor Inc., Cash8 Lending Corp., and Populus Lending Corp. to cease the processing of their borrowers’ personal data.
The companies may face jail time and fines for such violations, the Department of Justice said in an earlier warning.
Prior to the orders for takedown, the four lending apps were downloaded more than 2.1 million times from Google Play Store.
What do I do if I'm being harassed?
Apart from the NPC, he DOJ said borrowers can approach the National Bureau of Investigation-Cybercrime Division, the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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