#sim card and social media registration act

[themagical1sa]

Regarding the SIM Card and Social Media Registration Act

because people still reblog these posts on it, and it's time I personally update everyone about it.

For those unaware: the SIM Card and SocMed Registration Act was a bill initially intended as counteraction against trolls and spreaders of misinformation on social media.

It was, however, found to be unconstitutional, criminalizing the right to anonymity and pseudonymity on the Internet and is a violation of Filipinos' rights to privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of association (Democracy.Net.PH).

c. For using fictitious identites to register SIM cards or social media accounts. — The penalty of imprisonment of no less than six (6) years, or a fine of up to Two hundred thousand pesos (₱200,000.00), or both, shall be imposed upon anyone who uses a fictitious identity to purchase and register a SIM cards or social media account.

This is a direct violation of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Article III Sections 3 (1) and 4.

Above is a screenshot of Microsoft Edge from my laptop. The tab is showing a webpage from the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. The text shown is from Article III, the Bill of Rights, but the highlighted text are Sections 3 (1) and 4. They read, “SECTION 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise as prescribed by law,” and “SECTION 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

With this in mind, it was imperative that word spread of how dangerous the Act was and to have the then-President Rodrigo Duterte veto it.

It was vetoed on April 15, 2022.

This was, as @katsurolle said, "half a win for online anonymity." It was only vetoed because the this bill would also endanger and penalize paid political trolls in the Philippines.

Half a win as it was... there was a collective sigh of relief from the Filipino people.

This half-victory had been only short-lived.

Four months into presidency, President Bongbong Marcos signed a revised SIM Card Registration bill into law on October 10, 2022.

It is meant to reduce cybercrime — spam and scam texts, more especially.

According to Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil, the SIM Card Registration Act aims to provide “accountability in the use of SIM cards and aid law enforcers to track perpetrators of crimes committed through phones.”

The signing of the measure will likewise “significantly boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages, which have become more prevalent this year.”

This, however, brings forth a new concern: data leaks.

Scam texts in the Philippines have been containing the receiver's names, and it's been very likely that private information on the internet has been leaked.

I have more that go as far as July.

There are certainly many issues that need to be resolved first, but as far as the SIM Card Registration Law is concerned, its execution is well underway. Globe Telecom's subscribers have already been receiving a text that looks like this:

Hi! Get ready to start your Globe Prepaid SIM registration journey on December 27, 2022. For more info, please visit https://glbe.co/simregfaq

I just hope the SIM Card Registration Law will be as effective as national goverment officials claim it to be.

Thank you to everyone who spread awareness of the SIM Card and Social Media Registration Act — I'm very grateful.

That will be all, and thank you for reading.

[sseeeeedd]

"Bye-bye, sim card” for unregistered users?

“Bye-bye, sim card” for unregistered users?  Last October 10, 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, which was implemented last December 27, 2022.  In this law, within 180 days or six months, all current SIM subscribers must submit a completed form via a database platform or website made available by different telecommunications companies (Gita-Carlos, 2023).  The advertisement entitled “Mag-SIM Reg para hindi SIM Dead” made by Smart Communications on April 1, 2023, is a 30-second commercial that persuades users to register their SIM cards before April 26, 2022, or else they might not be able to use their current SIM cards.  This advertisement is generally targeted at Filipinos, notably Smart Prepaid, Smart Postpaid, Smart Bro, and Talk-n-Text (TNT) SIM users.

There was no implication that any Smart Communication services or goods were being promoted. Instead, it concentrates on convincing its customers to register their SIM cards so they may continue to utilize the company's services.  Additionally, towards the end of the video, a step-by-step process of registering one's SIM was also shown, serving as a guide.  Although no Smart Communications products or services were advertised, the commercial still benefits viewers.  It serves as a reminder for everyone who sees the ad, regardless of the SIM card brand they use, to register their SIM before the set deadline.

If one were to analyze the advertisement deeply, it can be said that there is a form of media manipulation present. Fearmongering is a type of manipulative information that utilizes fear to affect one’s actions or opinions.  First, looking at the ad's title, "Mag-SIM Reg para hindi SIM Dead," users are forced to register their respective SIM cards to continue using them.  According to the government, the implementation of this law may protect users against fraud, phishing, and other types of scams prevalent with unregistered SIM cards (Beltran, 2023).  However, according to Foundation for Media Alternatives (2017), this act impairs one's constitutional right to privacy and endangers vulnerable people and specific areas, because for someone to be able to register, they must provide their complete name, age, sex, address, and a photo of a valid identification card.  In other countries where this act also exists, it has also been shown to be ineffectual and inefficient.  Moreover, the ad's content also instills fear in users who will not register as their sim, number, online payments, and social media will be dead.

References

Beltran, B. B. M. (2023, February 20). All you Should Know about SIM Registration Act. BusinessWorld Online. https://www.bworldonline.com/special-features/2023/02/20/505990/all-you-should-know-about-sim-registration-act/?amp

Gita-Carlos, R.A. (2023, January 12). PBBM Seeks Update on Implementation of SIM Registration Law. Philippine News Agency. https://pna.gov.ph/articles/1192640

Mag-SIM Reg para hindi SIM Dead. (2023). [YouTube Advertisement]. In YouTube. Smart Communications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcx6v7hnGG8

SIM Registration: Fueling the Security vs. Privacy Debate. (2017, August 22). Foundation for Media Alternatives. https://fma.ph/2017/08/22/sim-registration-fueling-security-vs-privacy-debate/

[upismediacenter]

SIM Registration Act, nilagdaan; umani ng iba’t ibang reaksyon

PAGPIRMA SA BATAS. Noong Oktubre 10, 2022 ay pinirmahan ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang Republic Act 11934 o ang SIM Registration Act. Larawan mula sa Inquirer.net via Youtube.

Oktubre 10, 2022 - Tuluyan nang pinirmahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong Marcos Jr. ang Republic Act 11934 o ang Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act sa gitna ng pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin at human rights violations sa bansa.

Sa ilalim ng batas na ito, kinakailangan nang iparehistro ng publiko ang mga bagong SIM card sa mga rehistradong Public Telecommunication Entities (PTE). Ang mga PTE ay mga pampubliko o pribadong establisyemento na binigyang pahintulot na mamahagi o magbenta ng mga serbisyong pang-telekomunikasyon. Bibigyan naman ng 180 araw ang mga existing user na iparehistro ang kanilang numero. Ang mga mabibigong sumunod ay maaaring mabigyan ng 120 araw na ekstensyon ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) upang makapagrehistro. Kung hindi magagawa sa kabila ng ekstensyon ay tuluyan nang ide-deactivate ang kanilang mga numero.

Umani ng samu't saring reaksyon ang pagsasabatas nito, partikular na sa panahon na ilalaan para sa proseso ng pagpaparehistro. Subalit, ayon kay Senador Win Gatchalian, sapat na ang anim na buwang palugit para rito. “My version was as early as 2013. So it's been 10 years since we've been talking about this. So in terms of infrastructure, in terms of process, I don't think it will be a problem with the telcos,” dagdag pa niya.

Pinuri naman ni Senador Grace Poe ang pagpasa ng batas. “We worked hard to pass the legislation anew as a crucial first step to fend off text scammers, while guaranteeing utmost respect to fundamental human rights.”

Iba-ibang pagtanggap

Positibo rin ang pagtanggap ng mga telecommunication company o telco sa paglagda ng batas. Sa inilabas na opisyal na pahayag ng Globe, bukas sila sa mungkahi na gamitin ang National ID System para sa masinsinang beripaksyon sa pagpapatupad ng batas. “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,” sabi ni Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo.

Sa isa namang panayam ay ipinahayag ng kanilang Chief Privacy Officer na si Irish Almeida na ipapatupad nila ang pinakamataas na standard para sa data account privacy, na gagawin ng lahat ng telcos.

Suportado rin ng DITO Telecommunications ang paggamit ng National ID at pasaporte sa beripikasyon ng pagkakakilanlan ng subscriber. Ayon sa kanilang Telecommunications Officer na si Rodolfo Santiago, “Doing so will unburden the telcos of the need to establish another database to store biometrics data, which would be time consuming and resource heavy.”

Bukas ang Smart Telecommunications na lumahok sa paggawa ng Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) ng batas, na ilalabas 60 araw pagkatapos itong lagdaan. Samantala, nilinaw naman ng kanilang Vice President at Head of Regulatory Affairs na si Roy Ibay na kailangan pa rin na bigyan ng oras ang paghahanda at pag-test para masigurado ang ligtas na implementasyon ng batas sa pagkolekta ng mga personal na impormasyon.

Samantala, binatikos naman ng Secretary General ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan na si Renato Reyes Jr. ang batas. Ayon kay Reyes, malaking banta ang bagong batas sa privacy rights ng publiko. “The Philippine government is a notorious human rights violator for years now, and any measure that would compromise privacy rights should be seen as a danger.”

Matatandaan na noong Abril 2022 ay hindi pinirmahan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang batas. Kinakailangan pa raw pag-aralan ang pagsaklaw ng batas sa pagrerehistro rin ng social media accounts.

Reaksyon ng mga batang Isko

Nagbahagi rin ng reaksyon ang mga mag-aaral ng UPIS sa nasabing batas. Ayon kay Samer Lagunilla, mag-aaral mula Grado 12, maaaring makatulong at maging banta ito.

“Oo at hindi. Oo dahil maaari nang parusahan ang mga taong may mga SIM card na hindi registered at mataas ang halaga nito. Hindi dahil hindi natin alam kung gaano ka-accurate ang kanilang pag-filter sa mga messages at kung ano ang mga kino-consider nilang spam text at spam call,” aniya.

Mayroon din siyang pag-aalangan sa kanyang personal privacy dahil alam na ng gobyerno kung kanino ang mga SIM card at kung ano ang mga pinag-uusapan ng mga tao gamit ito.

Ngunit, sa kabila nito, mapipilitan pa rin si Samer na magparehistro kahit na wala siyang balak na gawin ito. “Wala akong balak, pero wala rin akong choice. Kailangan kong sumunod sa batas dahil ayaw ko naman magbayad o maparusahan dahil dito. Ngunit mananatili pa rin ang aking worry [para] sa aking privacy.” //nina Dante Aquino at Andre Panopio

[a-non-ymouswriter]

i’ve recently found out that maybe, perhaps, i may not deactivate or delete anything. because i am essentially a pre-existing account, which is pog- i get to stay :D i get to keep writing my fanfics and still be on tumblr!

unfortunately, though i may not even ever do it, i can’t make any new accounts. which i haven’t even thought of, nor do i plan on doing anytime in the future. but the choice has been taken away and that, that’s not good. and it’s not good for anyone who has yet to make a social media account.

the sim card and social media registration act still exists.

and i still hate it.

in the meanwhile though, i think i can get back into the swing of writing now that i (maybe) don’t have to worry about stuff like this.

i’m hoping and trying to get an update of any of my fanfics sometime this week.

i hope to everyone that they’re having a nice day/night/timezone that they’re in. and my fellow residents within the country, i really hope this ends in our favor. 

[gloomymuffin]

WHAT? WDYM??? YOU’LL LOSE INTERNET???

We can’t lose you!

I CAN'T LOOSE YALL EITHER OR I'M GONNA GO INSANE.

PLEASE SPREAD THIS

[scorchrend]

PLEASE READ!!

link to original tweet

https://t.co/NeGFVeCQiK <- LINK TO THE DOCUMENT WITH THE SIM CARD REGISTRATION ACT

For using fictitious identities to register SIM cards or social media accounts. - The penalty of imprisonment of no less than six (6) years or a fine of up to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) [note: this is about $3888.] or both, shall be imposed upon anyone who uses a fictitious identity to purchase and register a SIM cards or social media account.

saw this on twitter, not sure if anyone has here yet.

https://t.co/eVe3puxdHq <- LINK TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE "ANTITROLL" BILL

It is described as an “antitroll” bill as it will require all social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter to get the real name and phone number of users during the creation of an account.

According to Drilon, the requirement to use real names was aimed at “fight(ing) the anonymity that provides the environment for trolls and other malicious attacks to thrive in the age of social media."

The Philippine government, specifically Senate Minority Franklin Drilon specifically sought the insertion of the part that REQUIRES USERS TO USE THEIR REAL NAMES online to "fight against online trolls and cyberlibel."

The Philippine government also has a history of red-tagging anybody who says anything in opposition to them.

If you don't know what red-tagging is, it's basically "labeling people as terrorists, communists, etc." by the government, should you be percieved as a threat.

Victims of red-tagging may be subject to

having their communication, spoken, written, online, whatever, being monitored

arrested for simply being suspected of terrorism (which in the documents, the description of what a terrorist is is written very vaguely)

restricted travel, house arrest, prohibited from using any means of communication with those outside the victim's home, such as cell phones, computers, etc.

With this information, this law puts the Philippine citizens with barely any defense against red-tagging, much less doxxing from other users.

If the president decides to sign this, all Filipino citizens will be forced to use our real identities online.

As of now, I do not know any way to stop this, but it would help greatly if you shared this to spread the information.

If you find any way to oppose it, please share it to the best of your ability. Thank you.

Edit: this post has a pretty good explanation! there are links to petitions on there too

[scrolpencer]

Hey uh. what happened to the sim card registration act (or something idk) i just found out about it and i live in the Philippines????? can't find news that isnt made back in February

THIS IS URGENT!! ITS NOT YET OVER #VetoSocMedReg #VetoSIMCardReg  #BlockSIMCardReg

March 9, 2022 - 1:30 pm PHT (UTC+8) From what I heard it has not yet been signed but it has been IGNORED. It is still NOT GOOD NEWS because if the bill has been Lapsed (Neither signed or Vetoed), It WILL STILL BE LAW In the next 26 Days if the president haven't done something to the bill before APRIL 4

WE NEED THE BILL TO BE VETOED

More info on the legislative process here: https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/about/legpro.asp

THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGN THIS PETITION 

Its serious and already caused a vast amount of stress in our community. This bill is deeply flawed and scary to everyone, especially to young social media users. 

If this act is signed we will be exposed of personal information from our real names to addresses, leaving us and our children extremely vulnerable (to harassment, doxing, scams, kidnapping, and even child sexual predators.) For more information on the petition you can click this link here, FAQs included: https://democracy.net.ph/vetosocmedreg/ If anyone wants to correct me/add more information pls do (or @ me for updating) tags below cut

tags: @milkiane @canyon-perk @leydileyla @spideyheart @musicallisto @mullthingsoverinthehotwater @velvetcloxds @with-love-anu @harryssmommy @nevsluvr @acciorxses @badass-yn @maggiebuchanan @holden-caulfield @oeuryale @shadesofvelma @mendesxruel @wolfstar-lb @drayslove @draysbunny @itsmentalillness @ronsbadidea @ameliasbitvh @dr4cking @wrathspoet @o-rion-sta-r  @your-favorite-soy-bean @puppycat-is-my-patronus @astro-b-o-y-d @thegfig @themagical1sa @lilithcromwell @darkslayernk @wolfythewitch @birdie-ghost @nakakabaliw @tinymacaroni @thegirlwiththemooglehat + everyone else who sees this

[ellovett]

PLS SHARE THIS AROUND.

The SIM card and soc med registration bill basically forbids Filipinos from using aliases or fictitious identities when it comes to things like SIM cards and social media accounts. Basically what they want us to do is to use our real names, and use our personal information on whatever online platform/social media we use if we want to keep using them.

This bill will do more harm than good, as it will especially affect content creators, artists, writers, closeted lgbtqia people, trans people and basically literally fucking everyone that uses social media under the protection of an alias. Our privacy will be literally a glass wall!!! Making it much easier to dox us.

We have 8 days to make the president NOT sign/veto it as of Feb 25, every single Filipino's privacy online is at stake.

Thank u for reading , pls take the time to sign or rb.

[cornnyun]

help schnoofle stay as schnoofle‼️‼️

hello! it's quite unusual for me to do these kinds of posts, but there's a new bill being proposed in the philippines called the "SIM Card and Social Media Registration Act" which forbids the use of an alias or fictitious identity online. it could get a person fined 200,000 pesos and get at least 6 years in prison and the law itself is extremely vague.

i'm not sure if change.org is effective but signing is appreciated, thank you!

[themagical1sa]

Another year, another review! Let’s see how I’ve been since 2021.

I posted 575 times in 2022

That's 416 more posts than 2021!

199 posts created (35%)

376 posts reblogged (65%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@themagical1sa

@buc-eebarnes

@katsurolle

@elfilibusterismo

@mayoiayasep

I tagged 573 of my posts in 2022

#[ 🔁 | the magical girl reblogs ] - 328 posts

#[ ���️ | the magical girl speaks ] - 147 posts

#markiplier - 64 posts

#in space with markiplier - 51 posts

#art - 50 posts

#isa go to sleep challenge - 50 posts

#iswm - 49 posts

#[ 📢 | the magical girl's signal boost ] - 48 posts

#not my art - 47 posts

#philippines - 35 posts

Longest Tag: 132 characters

#my passive fandoms are: cave story • undertale • lolirock • demon slayer • little witch academia • carole & tuesday • genshin impact

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Philippine lawmakers are back at it again, writing horribly-worded and vaguely-defined laws!

I'm so tired. Gusto ko nang lumayas.

162 notes - Posted February 21, 2022

#4

While this braindump/drabble may work as a standalone, it is recommended that you read "Gwapo" and Nakakagigil ka! first.

"Tch, dumb transfer student," Katsuki Bakugo scoffed as he looked at you from his table with his friends. "If that dumbass likes me so much, then why is she sitting with shitty Deku?"

See the full post

229 notes - Posted March 19, 2022

#3

Markiplier's Emmy nomination memes moodboard

because holy shit, what the FUCK? /gen /pos

See the full post

497 notes - Posted November 2, 2022

#2

reposting from my own Twitter thread

first tweeted on 11:25 AM, 02 March 2022 (Philippine Time)

Man, I don't know how I expect myself to concentrate in class today when the SIM Card and Social Media Registration Act is about to be passed into law on *Friday.* That bill is going to nullify our right to privacy and endanger our cyber safety. It's going to make us more prone to hacking/doxxing and, on top of that, makes red-tagging easier. I don't know how I'm supposed to go on about my day when there is a whole bill that is going to endanger us all.

616 notes - Posted March 2, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I may or may not have realized something related to In Space with Markiplier.

Engineer!Mark said that the only other person he trusted the most was the Captain.

Engineer!Mark also built the warp core.

See the full post

1,318 notes - Posted September 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[actualbird]

hello zak, someone who is filipino. what's up with the whole sim card internet thing :(

hello, anon! im not an expert at being able to parse through law, so i highly reccomend that for a fuller rundown, you read about the SIM Card Registration Act here. still, i'll try my best to put it in short, if this would help

the SIM Card Registration Act is ph govt's answer to cybercrime and also internet trolls. it will require everybody, by law, to register their legal name, DOB, and address when getting a sim card. however, it's total fuckin overkill and a breach of privacy thanks to a clause that says

basically: social media accounts have to be under one's legal name. it is a criminal act to have social media accounts under a name that is not your legal name. using "fictitious identities" online could get you 6+ years of imprisonment or a PHP 200,000.00 fine. and the definition of "fictitious identities" is vague as hell.

cybercrime is an issue, yes, but there are better ways to go about fighting it that, yknow, dont involve the complete disregard and the legit criminalization of anonymity on the internet

at its most serious, this bill, if passed into law, poses a very real danger to activists online. red-tagging is already a huge issue and one that leads to unwarranted imprisonment and even killing. people die because of red-tagging. people have already died because of it. this bill could put more activists in danger

it's also putting the filipino queer community in danger too. many need internet anonymity for self expression online away from an unwelcoming family, and transgender filipinos especially use our chosen names instead of deadnames for social media. for the filipino queer community, the law could result in outing against our will. and this, in a country thats predominantly catholic and has had many hatecrimes, some even resulting in death, is scary as hell.

and in general, it imposes on the right of everybody to have anonymity and privacy on the internet.

i hope this helps. in the link i linked above, theres a link to a petition. the organizers of that petition have already submitted the signatures to the office of the president though, so im not sure if continuing to sign it would be of use.

[tack-tick]

https://democracy.net.ph/vetosocmedreg/

Hey so there’s a new law set to pass in the Philippines in like a week

The law basically says that you have to use your real name on social media or else you have to pay a P200,000 fine (my apologies if I got the currency wrong) or go to jail for a minimum of six years (if you want more details read the law itself and the post here)

I think we can all agree thats some fucking stupid bullshit

It’s a gross violation of civil rights for literally anyone who wants to be private on social media or not risk getting hacked/doxxed

On a more personal note, I have some online friends who are scared out of their minds of this law and are saying if it passes they’ll most likely delete their accounts

If this includes Discord, we’d probably never have a way to contact each other again

On top of that, one of them has a fanfic which she’s poured her heart and soul into and as a writer it would be my worst nightmare to have to delete a fic that long that has also gained popularity

It’s not fair to have peoples hard work get deleted out of fear

If you live in the Philippines I highly encourage you to sign the petition they have on the link. I’ve been told if you don’t live there, it’s basically useless to sign it

So if you don’t live there please boost this and read the thing linked above to see what you can do to help

I don’t want to be separated from my friends and all Filipinos should have the right to have privacy on social media

To Filipinos I’m sending y’all my love and support

[genyatheearikado]

filipinos' social media identities will be compromised in 9 days.

an act will be passed that will have us register for our sim cards using our real names. the government will know each of our social media accounts and criminalize anonymity for six years.

dissenters and activists are at danger everyday and this will make it worse.

this also brings our cyber security at risk of being compromised.

please spread and help us. our freedom of speech is getting threatened day by day and we can only hope that our government will stop.

https://www.change.org/p/president-rodrigo-duterte-veto-sim-card-registration-bill?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=a1577c00-d996-012f-ceaf-40406f61fb41

Actual file of the SIM Card act.

https://www.scribd.com/document/556732483/PH-Subscriber-Identity-Module-SIM-Card-Registration-Act-Final

[rizavi-m]

I know this is not at all related to the tags but please, take a moment to read this and please sign the petition

Please reblog this so more people can see and sign the petition. Our privacy is at risk, so please sign

[minimalaifu]

Guys it would mean a lot if you give time to sign this petition, because Filipino using pen names online like Vtubers might get in prison when the law gets passed this March..

[upinternet]

UP INTERNET opposes the SIM Card Registration Act, calls for people's action to defend privacy

Last December, both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the SIM Card Registration Act, the most brazen attack on Filipinos’ right to privacy and freedom of expression online. This February, the two versions of the bill have been consolidated by the bicameral conference. It now awaits Duterte’s signature, or lapses into law if not vetoed before March 4.

UP INTERNET deems the SIM Card Registration Act as the most dangerous threat to internet freedom in Philippine history, being the final piece to legalize cyber-surveillance nationwide. Through the association of legal identities with SIM cards, it constrains the ability of the public to remain anonymous online. The added provisions on enforcing a real-name policy for social media further compounds the situation.

The policy effectively compromises freedom of expression as it increases the difficulty of remaining anonymous online. By associating internet connections with legal identities, the right to privacy is abrogated. These premises give those in power unprecedented access to private information as well as effective control over discourse online. Under the characteristically repressive administrations of the Philippines, this type of government access and control becomes a weapon to stifle righteous opposition against tyranny. There is no true democracy if the people are not given their right to privacy and freedom of expression, only totalitarian control of those with access to our data.

Not only this, similar policies across the globe were shown to be useless against crime despite lawmakers claiming otherwise. It may in fact lead to higher cases of smartphone and more importantly, identity theft. In Mexico, their version of the law was repealed just three years after it was passed. In July 2020, the government of Laos commenced its nationwide sim registration program. Residents who failed to register will not be able to communicate with other users and connect to the internet. Despite the country’s extension of registration, the policy would only make the internet less accessible to millions with no IDs and those in remote and rural areas.

Finally, the policy will hand over our data to the Philippine government, an entity notoriously lacking in information security measures. Not only is the SIM Card Registration Act repressive and undemocratic, it is also inutile and anti-poor.

The harmful bill is now in its final stage before becoming state policy. UP INTERNET calls on the Filipino people to defend our right to privacy and join the fight to free the internet. We must act now and do everything in our power to foil the passage of this bill.#