The National Privacy Commission (NPC) advised schools with virtual classes to strictly enforce a social media policy that will protect students/users from possible data privacy consequences of posting screen captures, images, videos, chats, and sounds involving students and teachers.
NPC reminded learning institutions that such practices during virtual classes have implications on data privacy and other related regulations, according to the updated bulletin on the data privacy best practices in online, blended or synchronous learning.
“The efforts of schools to simulate physical classrooms to provide a sense of normalcy for education is not unnoticed by the Commission.
However, seeing as the COVID-19 pandemic caught all of us unprepared, there is a need to develop and improve policies that allow effective online teaching and learning without endangering data privacy rights,” said Privacy commissioner Raymund Liboro.
The NPC has had dialogues with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to gather inputs on the actual experiences of learners, educators, schools, and parents since the school year started, to assess and address concerns related to online learning.
All policies, guidelines, or codes involving the processing of personal data should always adhere to the general data privacy principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality, with the best interests of the learner as theparamount consideration, the NPC said.
It noted that a strict social media policy should prohibiting teachers and other school personnel from using personal data collected in an official capacity and/or during an official school activity for personal purposes such posting in their social media accounts.
NPC suggested the use of available online messaging applications, on a case-to-case basis, for the submission of assignments and other school requirements to protect the data privacy of both teachers and students,
Submissions should be sent directly to the appropriate teacher or school personnel and not be made publicly available, the bulletin read.
The Commission added that teachers or school personnel should send communications involving student personal data like exam grades, results of assignments, report cards, reminders on unpaid school fees, among others, directly to concerned recipients and should never be posted publicly.
Opening of cameras during online learning is allowed, but the Commission stressed that policies or guidelines on the use of cameras for online classes and examinations should be reasonable and necessary to supervise and monitor learners and help educators in teaching.
Policies or guidelines on the camera use should consider encouraging the use of virtual backgrounds whenever possible to avoid displaying the private living spaces of teachers and students.
NPC also urged schools to determine alternative ways to monitor online classes and examinations in virtual format and consider situations where learners “experience technical difficulties, limited internet connection, devices malfunctions, glitches on the online platforms used for online learning, and other analogous circumstances.
The bulletin also suggested the recording of lessons for students who may have missed class. This can also used by the school and educators for training purposes, with permission from learners, parents and guardians.