MANILA -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday said it is the right time to revisit and review the SIM Registration Law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

DICT Undersecretary for Infrastructure Management, Cybersecurity and Upskilling Jeffrey Ian Dy told ABS-CBN News that there is a need to improve the implementation of the law. 

“Kinakailangan simulan na 'yung proseso ng pag-audit at repasuhin din 'yung IRR para makasigurado tayo na talagang the databases that are being use are authenticated,” Dy said. 

(We need to audit and look again at the IRR to make sure that the databases that are being use are authenticated.)

According to Dy, scammers are using not just SIM cards but also internet based services to send text scams. 

Dy said scammers are also mimicking the original names of different companies when sending messages with clickable links to their targeted victims. 

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Data and information security analyst and founder of Data Ethics PH Dominic Ligot explained scammers are also using advanced technology to send text scams that don’t need SIM cards. These areas also need strict monitoring, he said.

“Meron kasing mga devices that can broadcast ng isang message lahat ng cellphone within that area puwedeng tamaan, hindi 'yan dumadaan sa telco network,” according to Ligot.

(There are devices that can broadcast a message to all cellphones within an area, these do not pass through a telco.)

Ligot said these devices are highly regulated and are usually used by the military during emergency situations. He admits, however, that these are also available on black market.

Atty. Jon Paulo Salvahan, National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner, admitted there are challenges in implementing the SIM Card Registration Law. 

“May challenges ang pagpapasagawa ng SIM Card Registration Act…nagpalabas na ng memorandum order ang NTC para pahigpitin ang pag-register ng SIM noong September 2023 at fully implemented noong Disyembre 2023 sa telco…pinagbabawal na ang clickable links na mga messages,” he said in a Teleradyo Serbisyo interview.

(There are challenges in implementing the SIM Card Registration Act...the NTC has released a memorandum order that has stricter SIM registration requirements. These became fully implemented in December..clickable links are no longer allowed in messages.)

Salvahan said for the first quarter of 2024, more than 700,000 SIM cards have been deactivated due to efforts to curb scams.

The NTC said it is committed to improve the implementation of the law. 

The DICT, meanwhile, advised the public not to give any sensitive information when someone is asking for authentication, to never click questionable clickable links from unknown source, and to use trusted and reliable social media apps.

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