May pananagutan sa batas ang ex-girlfriend ni Anthony Jennings na si Jamela Villanueva dahil sa mga inilabas nito sa social media na screenshots ng pribadong pagpapalitan ng mensahe ng kanyang ex-boyfriend at ng aktres na si Maris Racal.

Ito ay kahit iginigiit niyang biktima siya ng pagtataksil ng dalawa.

DID JAMELA VILLANUEVA VIOLATE THE DATA PRIVACY ACT?

Nakasaad sa inilabas noong advisory opinion ng National Privacy Commission (NPC) na maaaring parusahan, sa bisa ng Data Privacy Act of 2012, ang sinumang mapapatunayang nag-post o nagbahagi ng mga screenshot ng mga personal na impormasyon nang walang pahintulot mula sa mga nasasangkot na tao.

Bahagi ng paalala ng NPC: “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.”

Isa hanggang tatlong taong pagkakakulong at multang PHP500,000 hanggang isang milyong piso ang mga parusa sa mga matutukoy na lumabag sa Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Kung isinama sa pagbabahagi ng mga screenshot ang mga sensitibong impormasyon, tatlo hanggang limang taong pagkakakulong at pagmumulta ng PHP500,000 hanggang dalawang milyong piso ang parusa sa mga nagkasala.

Maaaring maghain ng reklamo ang mga biktima sa NPC at magsampa ng kaso sa korte para makahingi sila ng danyos.

Bunsod ng ginawa ni Jamela na pagbabahagi sa social media ng mga screenshot ng pribadong pag-uusap nina Maris at Anthony, sa isang iglap ay hinusgahan at nakatikim ng matitinding batikos ang dalawa na pinaratangang “cheater” o “manloloko.”

Kung nanaisin nina Maris at Anthony, puwede silang maghain ng reklamo laban kay Jamela dahil sa paglabag nio sa Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Pero kung nanaisin nilang huwag nang lumaki ang usapin, pipiliin na lamang ng dalawa ang manahimik hanggang kusang mamatay ang kontrobersiya.

Anthony Jennings and Jamela Villanueva 
Photo/s: Screengrab from Instagram | @jamelavillanueva

BE CAREFUL IN POSTING SCREENSHOTS OF PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS

Binigyang-linaw ng abogadong si Atty. Jesus Falcis ang aspeto ng batas tungkol sa isyung pinagpipistahan ngayon ng bayan at kinasasangkutan nina Maris, Anthony, at Jamela.

Ipinaliwanag ni Falcis na dapat tandaan ng mga taong padalus-dalos sa paglalabas sa social media ng mga screenshot para patunayang sila ang nagsasabi ng katotohanan, kapag biktima ng pang-aagrabyado ang kanilang mga pakiramdam.

Ito ang importanteng payo na ibinahagi ni Falcis sa kanyang social media account nitong Miyerkules ng gabi, Disyembre 4, 2024:

“Even before screenshots of text or chat messages between Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings were leaked today, many people — especially those who were cheated on — have always asked me before about the legality of posting and sharing screenshots of private conversations.

“I have always told them that there is such a thing called as the right to privacy. Even cheaters have human rights.

“The National Privacy Commission (NPC) clarified in an advisory opinion that the Data Privacy Act applies to screenshots if they reveal the identities of those involved:

“It is worthy to note that the processing, i.e. sending out the screenshot to another person, will only come under the scope of the DPA if personal data is indeed involved — if the conversation/screenshot itself allows for the identification of the parties.

“If it is simply the content of the conversation, with names and other identities redacted or cropped out of the screenshot, it might not be within the scope of the DPA.’

“So even if you were the victim of cheating, by posting screenshots of any alleged affair, not only are you exposing yourself to cyberlibel charges but also to charges for violating data privacy — which is punishable by stiffer and harsher penalties than cyberlibel.

“And while the Supreme Court just recently said that there is no violation of the right to privacy if screenshots are used in a criminal case, that is the caveat — the screenshots must be used in a criminal case.

“So what’s a girl to do? Well, you should still take screenshots as evidence of cheating or an affair (especially if you’re married).

“Then, what you should do is instead of posting on social media is to file a VAW (violence against women) case — psychological violence caused by infidelity.

“And if you’re a public figure or celebrity, let the media report or cover it — then you’ll get the publicity you wanted anyway without the legal liabilities for cyberlibel and data privacy.

“When you present the screenshots as evidence in court, that’s when the Supreme Court ruling will apply — that taking screenshots of private conversion is not a violation of the right to privacy when used as evidence in a criminal case.

“What’s unfortunate and what I find personally wrong in leaking the screenshots of Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings through social media is the slutshaming of Maris Racal because of her supposed “thirst trap/hungry” messages.

“Look what statements have gone viral. 3-4 messages from Maris Racal and only 1, barely viral, from Anthony Jennings (about him disgustingly using method acting as justification).

“Cheating is bad. But so is misogyny, enabled by violating the right to privacy.

“Victims have human rights. But vindicating your rights should not make more victims.

“Even cheaters have human rights.”