Enlightening Ateneans their collective duties as responsible users of technology, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) conducted E-Paalám: A Webinar Series on Media Information Literacy, Social Media Use, and Data Privacy yesterday, via Zoom. 

Atty. Edgar B. Pascua II, University Registrar, discussed cybercrime, national laws, and practical matters on how Ateneans can preserve privacy and be safe while conducting online classes.

With students accessing the Student Information System (SIS), utilizing AdDU emails, and transacting online, Pascua highlighted actions considered illegal and a crime under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. 

The said unlawful acts are illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference, and misuse of devices.

The speaker further emphasized Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, as all crimes are defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code as amended, and special laws, if committed by, through, and with the use of information and communications technologies. 

Pascua also introduced the Revised Penal Code, Access Device Regulation Act of 1998, Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, Consumer Act of the Philippines, Anti-Child Pornography Act, and the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination.

The University Registrar also discussed the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its relevance nowadays, with how everyone is vulnerable to identity theft and abuse of personal information.

“This law, the Data Privacy Act or RA 10173, guarantees for us our privacy. Not only our privacy, but the integrity of the information that we have surrendered somewhere for legitimate purposes,” he explained. 

Pascua then illustrated online privacy protection and precautions such as using strong passwords and antivirus software, handling confidential data carefully, emptying recycle bins, not sharing AdDU accounts and personal passwords, not providing personal information on the phone, and not oversharing. 

“I hope that today’s lecture, we could get to learn as much as we can so that the online world would be a safe place for us for learning,” he said.

During the morning session, OSA Assistant Director Atty. Ira Calatrava-Valenzuela presented the Social Media Use Policy which University President Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J.approved last August 4.

She introduced the seven sections of the policy — Principles and Values, Scope and Coverage, Prohibited Acts, Support Programs, Feedback Mechanism, Consequence for Violation, and Effectivity. 

“It [Social Media Use Policy] continues to uphold your freedom of expression as enshrined under the 1987 Constitution. What it actually requires is for each of us to be responsible for what we post, using the Social Media Policy as our guide in using our social media accounts,” the Assistant Director said. 

The webinar series will continue on September 17 and 24 and will be participated by second-year, third, and fourth-year students via Zoom.