Digital advocacy group says SIM registration law will not resolve spam, scam texts

A network of digital advocates is rejecting the SIM registration law after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. signed it into a law.

Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo said that SIM  registration may be risking personal data information to possible hacking and does not solve the proliferation of spam messages.

“With the telcos consolidating all mobile numbers and the personal information attached to it, the sim registration law is creating a bigger target for cybercriminals. The database of telcos is like the holy grail of all databases. And like any other treasure, this will be highly coveted and more enticing for hackers.” Gustilo said

Gustilo said that sim card registration is not the solution to spam texts and it is not advisable to give hackers or leakers another database to capture and that huge fines for every incident of data compromise is not a guarantee.

“It is simply not advisable. How can the government ensure that the integrity of the personal data information of SIM

users will be preserved when even government agencies are vulnerable to cyberattacks? There is no assurance that our personal information is safe and we are only giving cybercriminals another target to attack.”

Gustilo said that with the proliferation of SMS broadcasting apps, text blast machines, and SIM cloners, the registration of sim cards may even do more harm than good. He insisted that telecommunication companies

and the NTC must not let their guard down and intensify the blocking of spam messages and deactivating sim cards being used to send spam texts.

“The telcos and the NTC should step up and be always a step ahead in stopping the transmission of these unscrupulous messages preying on its hapless victims.”