SC penalizes FCash over data privacy breach

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered a lending app operator to pay damages to a client after it accessed her contact list and sent messages about her outstanding loan.

- By DAPHNE GALVEZ

In a 16-page ruling, the SC reversed the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) that set aside the National Privacy Commission (NPC)'s recommendation to charge FCash Global Lending Inc. with violation of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and to pay damages to complainant Grace Trimillos.

Based on court records, Trimillos filed a complaint against FCash for allegedly accessing her phone's contact list without her authority and informing everyone on the list regarding the status of her loan.

She claimed FCash told her contact list, composed of colleagues and friends, that they were guarantors of her loan and would be forced to pay on her behalf if no payment was made.