NPC, Grab: No data migration of Uber users, drivers following acquisition

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) and transport network company Grab on Friday assured the public that personal data of Uber users and drivers will not be automatically migrated following the acquisition deal of the two ride-hailing firms.

This is to ensure that data privacy of Uber's users and drivers will be safeguarded, NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro said in a press briefing in Pasay City.

"There will be no migration of personal data from Uber to Grab," Liboro said. "There will be concept-based onboarding of drivers and users need to download Grab's app."

Late in March, Uber Technologies has agreed to sell its Southeast Asian business to regional rival Grab.

For his part, Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu said, "[T]here is no acquisition of Uber data."

"[The] data we received from Uber is only upon consent, on drivers’ side; drivers need to manually consent to share their data to assist in onboarding process," Cu said.

In a joint statement, the NPC and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it called on Grab to be fully transparent on what will happen with the personal data of around 1.2 million Filipino Uber account holders and ensure these data are lawfully processed in the course of the acquisition.

"Grab must implement appropriate organizational, physical, and technical security measures, if the acquisition will involve any personal data processing. Mechanisms to accommodate the public's data privacy concerns relating to the deal should also be present," the NPC and LTFRB said.

LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada said the agency is in close coordination with the NPC to ensure that data privacy is fully protected and respected in relation to the plan to require public utility vehicles including app-based ride-hailing services to install CCTVs or dash cameras and global positioning system devices.

Cu said Grab is currently conducting an onboarding process for Uber drivers to migrate to the Grab platform as the Uber app will be offline starting April 8.

Meanwhile, Uber users may opt to delete their apps. —KBK, GMA News