The Senate and the House of Representatives have approved the proposed SIM Card Registration Act, including the mandatory registration of social media accounts. The proposal is now awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
On February 2, 2022, Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report consolidating House Bill 5793 and Senate Bill 2395, also known as "An Act Eradicating Mobile Phone, Internet Or Electronic Communication-Aided Criminal Activities, Mandating For This Purpose Ownership Registration Of All SIM Cards For Electronic Devices And Social Media Accounts."
The proposed law is intended to combat fraud and other criminal activity facilitated by SIM cards. Additionally, it contains a provision prohibiting online trolls.
The bill requires that all existing SIM card subscribers with active services register with their respective public telecommunications entities (PTEs) within 180 days of the proposal's effective date.
SIM card users may obtain a maximum of 120-day extension by submitting a valid written request to the DICT or Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Failure of the subscriber to register authorizes the telco to deactivate the SIM card number automatically.
Meanwhile, it is the responsibility of the subscribers to report the SIM card's loss or any change in its information following registration.
Registration required by the measure shall be provided free of charge to end-users and third-party resellers.
Globe, Smart, and DITO expressed their support for mandatory SIM card registration.
Globe stated that its support for the measure shows its commitment "to support the government in its fight against fraud, terrorism and other crimes." It added that this "paves the way for greater digital and financial inclusion."
Smart also welcomed this development and said that they've constantly maintained their stance that the "SIM card registration bill will help quash the proliferation of fraudulent spam messages, smishing cases and fraud, and will boost telecom security efforts to keep subscribers safe."
Meanwhile, DITO said that they will have "no major challenge in terms of implementing whatever the objective of the law."
To recall, The House of Representatives passed the third and final reading of the bill requiring the registration of SIM cards in December 2021.
Source: Philippine News Agency
