NPC probes Jollibee, Viber over Christmas campaign data privacy concerns

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is investigating Jollibee Foods Corporation and Viber over data privacy concerns related to Jollibee's "Buo ang Saya ng Pasko" Christmas campaign.

The NPC received user complaints after Jollibee's logo appeared when users typed "Christmas" and branded marketing materials, including digital stickers, appeared in private Viber conversations.

The commission is probing whether this campaign constitutes unsolicited processing of personal data under the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

An executive described the pop-up ads as "unwanted, excessive and intrusive," emphasizing that they should not have appeared in private chat spaces.