Philippines’ Text-Scam Sim, Law Raises Concerns About State Surveillance

October 20, 2022 By Raulf Hernes

(Image Credit Google)

The controversial SIM Card Registration Act was passed into law by Philippine President Bongbong Marcos on October 10. The bill's proponents assert that it will be a significant step in the fight against the nation's pervasive text fraud. Human rights groups point out that certain legal measures significantly expand the state's capacity to monitor citizens. In order to combat mobile and electronic devices communication-aided crimes, the law mandates that all mobile phone users produce appropriate government-issued identification and documentation while registering their SIMs or eSIMs, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Under the direction of the nation's communication technology agency, telcos will be required by law to secure subscribers' private information. Philippines’ Text-Scam Sim Law Raises Concerns About State Surveillance

Philippines’ Text-Scam Sim Law Raises Concerns About State Surveillance

Furthermore, violators of the rule are subject to fines ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP1 million from telcos, authorized SIM card vendors, and even government workers, according to the version passed by Philippine lawmakers. Finally, senator Grace Poe said in a speech, "There is something we can do besides just ignoring, deleting, or blocking the numbers with bogus or spam communications." The legislator stressed that "we now have the tools in our hands to expose the criminals who have been hiding for so long under the cover of anonymity and to bring them to justice."

By Raulf Hernes

If you ask me raulf means ALL ABOUT TECH!!

Philippines’ Text-Scam Sim, Law Raises Concerns About State Surveillance

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