[Table of Contents] [Glossary]
Rule XIII. Penalties
Section 52. Unauthorized Processing of Personal Information and Sensitive Personal Information.
a. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who process personal information without the consent of the data subject, or without being authorized under the Act or any existing law.
b. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from three (3) years to six (6) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Four million pesos (Php4,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who process sensitive personal information without the consent of the data subject, or without being authorized under the Act or any existing law.
Section 53. Accessing Personal Information and Sensitive Personal Information Due to Negligence.
a. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who, due to negligence, provided access to personal information without being authorized under the Act or any existing law.
b. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from three (3) years to six (6) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Four million pesos (Php4,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who, due to negligence, provided access to sensitive personal information without being authorized under the Act or any existing law.
Section 54. Improper Disposal of Personal Information and Sensitive Personal Information.
a. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to two (2) years and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who knowingly or negligently dispose, discard, or abandon the personal information of an individual in an area accessible to the public or has otherwise placed the personal information of an individual in its container for trash collection.
b. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who knowingly or negligently dispose, discard or abandon the sensitive personal information of an individual in an area accessible to the public or has otherwise placed the sensitive personal information of an individual in its container for trash collection.
Section 55. Processing of Personal Information and Sensitive Personal Information for Unauthorized Purposes.
a. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from one (1) year and six (6) months to five (5) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons processing personal information for purposes not authorized by the data subject, or otherwise authorized under the Act or under existing laws.
b. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from two (2) years to seven (7) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons processing sensitive personal information for purposes not authorized by the data subject, or otherwise authorized under the Act or under existing laws.
Section 56. Unauthorized Access or Intentional Breach. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who knowingly and unlawfully, or violating data confidentiality and security data systems, breaks in any way into any system where personal and sensitive personal information are stored.
Section 57. Concealment of Security Breaches Involving Sensitive Personal Information. A penalty of imprisonment ranging from one (1) year and six (6) months to five (5) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) shall be imposed on persons who, after having knowledge of a security breach and of the obligation to notify the Commission pursuant to Section 20(f) of the Act, intentionally or by omission conceals the fact of such security breach.
Section 58. Malicious Disclosure. Any personal information controller or personal information processor, or any of its officials, employees or agents, who, with malice or in bad faith, discloses unwarranted or false information relative to any personal information or sensitive personal information obtained by him or her, shall be subject to imprisonment ranging from one (1) year and six (6) months to five (5) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00).
Section 59. Unauthorized Disclosure.
a. Any personal information controller or personal information processor, or any of its officials, employees, or agents, who discloses to a third party personal information not covered by the immediately preceding section without the consent of the data subject, shall be subject to imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00).
b. Any personal information controller or personal information processor, or any of its officials, employees or agents, who discloses to a third party sensitive personal information not covered by the immediately preceding section without the consent of the data subject, shall be subject to imprisonment ranging from three (3) years to five (5) years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00).
Section 60. Combination or Series of Acts. Any combination or series of acts as defined in Sections 52 to 59 shall make the person subject to imprisonment ranging from three (3) years to six (6) years and a fine of not less than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) but not more than Five million pesos (Php5,000,000.00).
Section 61. Extent of Liability. If the offender is a corporation, partnership or any juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the responsible officers, as the case may be, who participated in, or by their gross negligence, allowed the commission of the crime. Where applicable, the court may also suspend or revoke any of its rights under this Act.
If the offender is an alien, he or she shall, in addition to the penalties herein prescribed, be deported without further proceedings after serving the penalties prescribed.
If the offender is a public official or employee and he or she is found guilty of acts penalized under Sections 54 and 55 of these Rules, he or she shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed herein, suffer perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification from office, as the case may be.
Section 62. Large-Scale. The maximum penalty in the corresponding scale of penalties provided for the preceding offenses shall be imposed when the personal data of at least one hundred (100) persons are harmed, affected, or involved, as the result of any of the above-mentioned offenses.
Section 63. Offense Committed by Public Officer. When the offender or the person responsible for the offense is a public officer, as defined in the Administrative Code of 1987, in the exercise of his or her duties, he or she shall likewise suffer an accessory penalty consisting of disqualification to occupy public office for a term double the term of the criminal penalty imposed.
Section 64. Restitution. Pursuant to the exercise of its quasi-judicial functions, the Commission shall award indemnity to an aggrieved party on the basis of the provisions of the New Civil Code. Any complaint filed by a data subject shall be subject to the payment of filing fees, unless the data subject is an indigent.
Section 65. Fines and Penalties. Violations of the Act, these Rules, other issuances and orders of the Commission, shall, upon notice and hearing, be subject to compliance and enforcement orders, cease and desist orders, temporary or permanent ban on the processing of personal data, or payment of fines, in accordance with a schedule to be published by the Commission.
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