Loopholes in SIM registration law lead to rise in cybercrimes – IT experts

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly two years following the implementation of the SIM Card Registration Law, a group of computer professionals criticized the government for its failure to fulfill its promises to lessen cybercrimes with the new law.

The Computer Professionals’ Union said that the government was not ready to implement Republic Act No. 11934, or the SIM Card Registration Law as some users could not register themselves due to the absence of a valid ID.

“Mayroon ding mga nahirapan magrehistro dahil hindi alam kung paano ito gagawin. Napagsamantalahan naman ito ng ilan na nagpapabayad para irehistro ang SIM ng mga nahihirapang gawin ito. Ayon sa batas, wala dapat bayad ang SIM Registration, ngunit hinayaan lamang ng gobyerno ang ganitong kalagayan,” the group said in a statement.

The group also criticized the increased number of cybercrimes despite the presence of the law, saying that the government did not study the implications of RA 11934, a law that was enacted in 2022.

“Walang pag-aaral na ginawa ang gobyerno para dito. Maging ang SIM Registration ay hindi nila pinag-aralan gayong kahit sa ibang bansa ay hindi ito epektibo laban sa scam at iba pang krimen,” the Computer Professionals’ Union spokesperson Maded Batara said.

“Nagsinungaling ang mga mambabatas tungkol sa layunin ng SIM Registration na wawakasan nito ang mga scam at iba pang krimen na gumagamit ng SIM. Ni hindi man lang nabawasan, bagkus ay tumaas pa ang bilang ng cybercrime ayon mismo sa Philippine National Police,” Batara added.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the number of cybercrimes increased by 21.8% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

With this, Senate President Chiz Escudero and Sen. Grace Poe questioned the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for failing to curb text scams. The senators also told the NTC to combat such scams instead of making excuses.

NTC earlier pointed out that the SIM Registration Act is “not a silver bullet against messaging scams.”

"The NTC fully acknowledges the call of our legislators on the need to further strengthen not only the law, but also its enforcement, to which the NTC remains committed. Although the SIM Registration Act is not a silver bullet against messaging scams, it is nevertheless one of the most important tools for our law enforcement authorities because it provides legal sanctions for SIM-aided offenses," NTC said.