MANILA - Google on Thursday reassured Filipinos on the safety of data they share with the internet giant, as rival Facebook grappled with the fallout from a breach that affected 87 million people worldwide.

Google said users could control the kind of information they share on the platform. Advertisers can also now choose where their spots will appear.

"We take this as a big responsibility for us, to make sure that the consumer would trust us on how we treat their data," Google Philippines country manager Kenneth Lingan said.

"We want to assure our users that your data with us is secure," Lingan said in an exclusive interview with ANC's The Boss.

Google is revisiting its protocols even without internet regulation, as proposed in some countries, he said.

"We don’t need to wait for regulation for us to act together. We are clearly responsible for our users. Even though regulators would come in, we would do it independently," he said.

Facebook, the world's largest social media network, said Wednesday that data from as many as 87 million people were improperly shared with British consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

The leak exposed Facebook's vulnerabilities with lawmakers in the US set to investigate the matter.

• Facebook says 87 million may be affected by data breach

Google is also addressing bullying fake news and bullying on the internet through a campaign called "Love Philippines," Lingan said.

Influencers who promote responsible internet use and good values will be tapped for the project, he said.