Content creators flag data privacy concerns over BIR seal badge

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Monday suspended the October 31 deadline for the mandatory online posting of registration seal badges for online sellers, freelancers, and content creators following concerns raised by digital creators over potential data privacy violations, doxxing, and identity theft.

Financial content creator Antonette Aquino, who has been registered with the BIR for five years, had taken to social media to air her concerns in an open letter.

Under BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 38-2026, which took effect on April 29, online sellers, freelancers, and content creators were required to publicly display their digital registration seal badges on their online profiles.

“I saw that the badge hides your TIN, but it shows your full registered business name. So you know how in a business, it just shows the registered business name and the business address. But for a lot of creators and online sellers, it’s their full legal name,” Aquino said.

According to the BIR, the seal badge was introduced as an alternative to posting the entire Certificate of Registration (COR) online.

The agency also previously announced that it had issued more than 52,700 registration seal badges as of October 14 — a figure Aquino said raises alarm.

“And of course, very alarming yun kasi if someone knows your legal name, that can be subject to doxing, to identity theft And all of these privacy concerns Which is why I wanted to directly address the person in authority,” Aquino added.

While the BIR responded to Aquino’s letter and suspended the deadline, Aquino said clear guidelines are still needed and stakeholders should be consulted in the policymaking process.

“Sana may mga stakeholder consultation na nangyari, Sana kinonsult niyo yng mga creators yung mga online sellers before they rolled out a polocy like this… I think it’s important na hindi matigil yung conversation and to still put public pressure to BIR,” she added.

As of now, no date has been announced for the resumption of the mandatory online posting of the seal badge.

The BIR, however, clarified that displaying the seal badge will remain voluntary while the requirement is suspended. No penalties will be imposed on taxpayers solely for failing to display the badge.