As more police officers and vloggers adopt body-worn cameras in public spaces, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) has reminded users to uphold the rights of individuals recorded on camera.

In its newly released Circular No. 2025-01, effective June 10, the NPC laid down strict protocols governing the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement, private security personnel, and even content creators. The circular stresses the lawful processing, storage, and management of audio-visual data and metadata generated through these devices.

“With the growing use of body-worn cameras across law enforcement, private security, and even digital content creation, we are entering a new era where the boundary between public safety, personal expression, and individual privacy is increasingly complex,” said Privacy Commissioner John Henry Naga. “NPC Circular No. 2025-01 reflects our commitment to ensuring that technologies meant to enhance transparency and accountability do not come at the cost of unwarranted surveillance or intrusion of privacy.”

Law enforcement agencies, particularly the Philippine National Police, are now required to ensure that the use of body-worn cameras complies with data privacy principles, especially during sensitive operations like the execution of warrants. Agencies must maintain proper authorization, establish data retention policies, and provide avenues for public access requests and privacy complaints.

The NPC also extended its reminder to vloggers and digital content creators who use body cams for content creation. The circular affirms that filming individuals in public or private spaces, particularly when such recordings are uploaded, streamed, or monetized, constitutes personal data processing.

As such, content creators must observe the Data Privacy Act of 2012. This includes giving prior notice to individuals being filmed, displaying privacy notices on digital platforms, blurring faces when necessary, and responding to takedown or privacy-related requests from featured individuals.