House to probe Facebook data breach

The chair of the House of Representatives’ information and communications technology committee has sought an inquiry into the “breach of data” of 1.18 million Filipino users of Facebook.

This followed revelations that British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica collected data allegedly to sway voters’ opinion on behalf of certain politicians.

In filing House Resolution No. 1871, Tarlac Rep. Victor Yap stressed the need for Congress to strengthen privacy standards and guarantee transparency.

Yap noted that the data improperly collected by Cambridge Analytica involved “personal and sensitive information of Filipinos.”

He also cited a report that the firm’s predecessor, Strategic Communications Laboratories, “helped rebrand an incumbent candidate in a national election in the Philippines,” without naming the official.