Maris Racal-Anthony Jennings Convo: Netizens Talk About Data Privacy Act

Netizens have different reactions to the Maris Racal-Anthony Jennings issue

Netizens talked about the “Data Privacy Act” amid the controversial exposed conversations of Kapamilya loveteam partners Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings.



Maris and Anthony’s onscreen partnership started in Can’t Buy Me Love. From being known as the SnoRene tandem based on their characters’ names in the series, their loveteam continued as MaThon.

The partnership in front of the camera started when they both were still with their respective partners. Maris was still with Rico Blanco at that time while Anthony was still with his non-showbiz girlfriend Jam Villanueva.

jam villanueva📷: @jamelavillanuevaa / Instagram
When Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings confirmed their breakups with their respective ex-partners, they both said that there was no third party.

However, Jam had a different story supported by her screenshots. She shared in a series of Instagram Stories the intimate conversations between Anthony and Maris while she and the actor were still together.

anthony jennings maris racal📷: @netflixph / Instagram
This revelation blew up on social media and netizens had negative reactions to Maris. On the other hand, there were netizens who defended her and said that Jam violated the Data Privacy Act or the Republic Act No. 10173.
Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings
This law states: “The disclosure of a private conversation involving personal data without the consent of the parties involved, or without some other lawful basis for the processing of personal data under the DPA, may be construed as unauthorized processing.“

Netizens who cited this said that Jam had no right to expose those private conversations between Maris and Anthony.


However, some netizens pointed out that this will not fall under that law as Jam suffered from psychological and mental distress brought by the alleged cheating and she can also file violence against women and their children (VAWC) complaint.

A netizen shared a video of an apparent lawyer explaining the Data Privacy Act and its connection to screenshots of private conversations being exposed. The Supreme Court’s decision was cited, based on an article in Republicasia, the Data Privacy Act of 2012 “allows the processing of sensitive personal information when it relates to the determination of criminal liability of a data subject and when necessary for the protection of lawful rights and interests of persons in court proceedings.”