11 Mar

Last August 6, 2018, President Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11055, also known as “An Act Establishing the Philippine Identification System (or “National ID Act”).”  The Act seeks to establish a single national identification system referred to as the “Philippine Identification System” or the “PhilSys” for all citizens and residents of the Philippines[1] to provide a valid proof of identity for them as a means of simplifying public...

22 Feb

Even as laws have been enacted to address emerging markets in the Philippines, the basic law on corporations – Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, or the Corporation Code  – has remained mostly intact since it went into effect in 1980. It had been noted that the Corporation Code had numerous stringent incorporation and regulatory requirements which discouraged investors and Filipino entrepreneurs to enter from entering the local market. ...

30 Jan

The Philippine judicial system, despite best efforts to keep apace with technological advances, remains largely non-electronic. Digitized record-keeping in the courts is not widespread; the submission of pleadings in electronic formats is almost unheard of. The handling of electronic evidence is potentially rife with inaccuracies, given the lack of technological infrastructure and the inexperience of those in the chain of custody....

30 Jan

“Opt-in” and “Opt-out” are means by which a Data Processor secures consent from a Data Subject. The primary difference between the two is that the “Opting-in” is an active form of giving one’s consent where the user takes affirmative action to offer their consent, while “Opting-out” is impliedly given by the Data Subject to the Data Processor and where the user takes action to withdraw their consent. ...

29 Jan

Since the 2016 U.S Presidential elections, internet trolls have made their presence known in various social media platforms such as Facebook. In an indictment filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Internet Research Agency[1], a Russian internet troll farm owned by a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin[2], was accused of election interference during the 2016 U.S. Presidential elections, which resulted in Donald Trump’s victory....

27 Jan

Every day, we see the impact of the digital age on  traditional industries and businesses. For example, the print industry (i.e. newspapers, magazines, books) is struggling to compete with their electronic counterparts. Either they beat the digital form, or they join it. Last April 2018, we saw Summit Media, a prominent publisher of lifestyle magazines such as Cosmopolitan Philippines, Preview, PEP (YES! Magazine), Topgear, FHM, and Town and Country, completed...

26 Jan

If one goes into stores, there are multiple ways of paying one’s purchases. One could pay through traditional means, i.e., through cash, debit or credit card or through their electronic wallets, more commonly known as “e-wallet”, an electronic card which allows the user to pay for transactions made online through a computer or a smart phone[1]. ...

18 Jan

What is a smart city?In 2016, the global spending on smart city technology reached $80 billion, and by 2021, it is predicted to increase to $135 billion. The international community has consistently lauded several cities who have adopted smart city solutions. The impact of smart cities to citizens has influenced countries to commence initiatives that support this technology-based governance. ...