Globe supports SIM Registration Law, seeks full rollout of National ID system

Globe has expressed its support of the newly signed SIM Registration Law and reiterates its call for the full rollout of the National ID system.

According to Globe, a verifiable and fool-proof identification system is the foundation of the SIM Registration law. If people are allowed to submit any form of identification that can easily be falsified, SIM registration will be useless for law enforcers and fraudsters will continue to operate.

“For this reason, our position has been clear from the beginning, a National ID system must be in place to ensure the safe and successful implementation of this new law,” says Globe General Counsel Froilan M. Castelo.

The passage of the SIM Registration law is expected to provide stronger regulation and enforcement against cybercriminals hiding behind anonymity to defraud mobile phone users.

Globe says the government must look at global best practices in implementing the new SIM Registration bill. Many countries are using their national ID system to easily verify the identity of a person who registers a SIM number. A National ID system covers the majority of Filipinos and will serve as a crucial source document for telcos to counter-check IDs that prepaid SIM users present as proof of identity for registration.

“We support the passage of this measure after previous roadblocks and we are ready to comply. Aside from our advanced cybersecurity capabilities, we welcome a new regulatory environment that has stronger safeguards against cyber threats and other crimes carried out using mobile phones,” said Froilan Castelo, Globe General Counsel.

Globe is working with the government in drafting the implementing rules and regulations for the rational enforcement of the law, including the rollout of the retroactive registration of tens of millions of prepaid SIM users.

Globe says it is grateful to Congress for giving industry players an opportunity to share their insights and recommendations during the crafting of the measure.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the SIM Registration bill into law on Monday, October 10, ending years of deliberations on the measure. The law comes at a time when smishing and other forms of scam and spam messaging, and a host of other SIM-aided criminal activity has been escalating, with perpetrators remaining anonymous.