Nearly two years after it was implemented, the SIM Card Registration Law seems to have failed to fulfill its promise of reducing cybercrimes, with groups like the Computer Professionals Union saying that the government was not even ready to implement Republic Act No. 11934, as some users could not even register themselves due to the absence of a valid ID.
The group also criticized the continued threat of cybercrimes, despite the presence of the law, saying that the government failed to study the implications of the RA 11934 that was enacted in 2022.
Computer Professionals Union spokesperson Maded Batara pointed out the scams were not reduced, and even increased, citing data from the Philippine National Police which indicated that the number of cybercrimes increased by 21.8 percent in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
Senate President Chiz Escudero and Sen. Grace Poe have questioned the National Telecommunications Commission for failing to curb text scams, although the NTC had earlier pointed out that the SIM Registration Act is not a ‘silver bullet’ against such scams, but it is one of the more important tools for authorities as it provides legal sanctions for SIM-aided offenses.
The continued threat of text messaging scams, despite the SIM Registration Act, may be traced back to a weak law and hurried implementation, but it also highlights the importance of staying one step ahead, or at the very least, in pace with technology-based scammers, whose methods and tactics can be quite creative and tech-savvy, often keeping up with the latest trends in technology, while at the same time exploiting loopholes and weaknesses, not only in within the legal framework, but of hardware, software, and peopleware, or the users, as well.
The SIM Registration Act can only do so much, and its implementation is only the beginning of an ongoing and constantly evolving battle with scammers from all over the world. As such, Filipinos at all levels, from individuals all the way to the government and telco service providers, still cannot let their guards down when it comes to their mobile devices and digital accounts.*
