Senate OKs SIM card registration measure on 3rd and final reading

The Senate on Thursday approved on third and final reading the proposed SIM (subscriber identification module) card registration bill in a bid to deter electronic communication-aided crimes.

Voting 22-0-0, the senators approved the Senate Bill 2395 that seeks to require the registration of SIM cards to eradicate proliferation of SIM card, internet, and other electronic communication-aided crimes, including but not limited to:

• terrorism;
• text scams;
• unsolicited, indecent or obscene messages;
• bank fraud;
• libel;
• anonymous online defamation;
• trolling; and
• hate speech, spread of digital disinformation or fake news as defined under pertinent laws.

Under the bill, subscribers will be required to personally submit to public telecommunication entities (PTEs) a registration form containing their full name, date of birth and address.

A valid government ID or similar documents that will verify their identity shall be presented.

Meanwhile, minors must be accompanied by their parents or guardian during the purchase and registration of SIM cards.

Sellers could refuse the sale of SIM cards should the buyers fail to comply with the requirements.

"The measure establishes another layer of security protection for Filipinos which will hopefully deter criminals from perpetrating their wicked plans. It is high time that we beef up our own infrastructures to address these threats to security," Senator Grace Poe, sponsor of the bill, said Thursday.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, for his part, said this measure would help in mandating social media platforms to require its users to register their real names and phone numbers before the creation of their accounts.

SB 2395 proposes fines or imprisonment for failure to comply with the mandated registration, breach of confidentiality, use of fictitious identities, spoofing, and unauthorized sale of SIM cards. —LBG, GMA News