Communication Privacy Management Theory in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Studies from the Philippines

Abstract

Information management during the COVID-19 pandemic ranges from personal to institutional level of agencies. This was highly observable at the onset of the national health emergency in the Philippines when most Filipinos who had symptoms did not know what to do. They, as well as their relatives, were in a fearful situation, and so were the government and private agencies involved in health care services. When in need of medical attention, will they tell the truth about their travel history or their exposure to anyone who is infected? The researchers studied the turbulence that occurred when mutually held rules by a community were breached by its members through concealment and gatekeeping during national health emergencies. The study elucidates how the management of private information prevents boundary turbulence and maintains personal relationships, but results in uncontrolled social turbulence during the pandemic. Applicability of the system and principles of Communication Privacy Management Theory such as privacy ownership, privacy control, privacy turbulence, and information stakeholders were studied qualitatively through data generated from nine participants of varying points of view - a) patients and/or relatives who managed their private information; and b) patients, their relatives, and health workers such as doctors, nurses, and medical staff who were adversely affected by such management of private information. Keywords: COVID-19, communication, privacy, ownership, control.