As text scams persist despite the SIM Registration Law, Senator Grace Poe on Friday renewed her call for a “live selfie” requirement to register a SIM card with local mobile networks.
Poe prodded concerned agencies and telecommunications companies to make selfies a requirement for SIM registration as deterrence against fraud and scamming.
She said the selfies, or one’s photograph taken by oneself, should be part of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act.
While the SIM Registration law is already there, the scammers have continued to deceive people, as the senator noted that the law “was made to protect our people against scammers.”
The chairperson of the Senate public services committee renewed her push for the selfie requirement after the National Bureau of Investigation disclosed in a hearing that it was able to register a SIM using a fake government ID bearing the photo of a monkey.
Prior to this, several raids in alleged cybercrime hubs yielded thousands of SIM cards that had been pre-registered and contained e-wallets purportedly used in the scam operations.
Poe, the author and sponsor of the law, said she expects the National Telecommunications Commission to come up with a reinforced IRR that can be more effective in addressing scams.
“We have seen that fake government IDs can get through the telcos’ system. The selfies will be an added line of defense in the SIM verification process,” she said.
However, the senator reminded the IRR must ensure the protection of subscribers against privacy violations.
Poe also exhorted telcos to put in the extra effort to make it easy for subscribers to comply with the selfie requirement, especially those in far-flung areas and without internet access.
The senator said government agencies and telcos should also work closely in tracking down individuals and groups who try to get around the law to continue their illegal activities.
“This law does not aim for a simple registration. This will ensure that the savings of our people will not be stolen by scammers using SIM cards.