The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has issued a public advisory urging parents and guardians to be cautious when participating in seemingly harmless online contests that ask for photos of their babies in exchange for prizes like GCash credits or food.
The advisory came after several Facebook pages began circulating “pa-contest” posts encouraging users—especially parents—to comment with “cute” baby pictures. While these posts may appear innocent, the NPC warned of their potential dangers, particularly concerning children’s safety and privacy.
“Mga mommies at daddies, ingat sa mga ‘pa-contest’ sa social media!” the NPC cautioned in a statement.
The commission emphasized that publicly sharing baby photos can open doors for malicious individuals to misuse these images for purposes such as online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC)—a growing concern in the digital age.
Beyond exploitation, such posts may inadvertently disclose personal details that can be harvested by online predators or scammers. When shared in public posts, these images often come with contextual clues such as the child’s name, age, and sometimes even their location.
The NPC called on parents to “think before you post”, stressing the importance of protecting a child’s privacy and digital future. The commission also encouraged the public to report suspicious online contests and pages to authorities or to Facebook directly.
As part of its ongoing campaign, the NPC is strengthening its efforts to raise awareness about data privacy, especially concerning vulnerable sectors like children.
“Huwag hayaang maging biktima ang inyong anak! Protektahan natin ang kanilang privacy,” the agency added.
