The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it is planning to talk with e-wallet companies to remove all auto payment functions amid reports of possible scams.
The auto-debit function allows e-wallet apps to automatically deduct certain amounts of money to pay a user’s subscriptions or online purchases.
DICT Usec. Jeffrey Dy, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said the agency has noticed the increasing number of e-wallet users complaining of being victimized by alleged scams through e-wallets that are inadvertently “linked” to illegitimate websites.
Dy said there is nothing wrong if the e-wallet is linked to legitimate apps. However, users sometimes link their e-wallets to sites that may not be legitimate or trusted.
The agency is now planning to talk with companies with e-wallet services regarding these concerns, Dy said.
The official also defended the government from criticisms that is not prioritizing cybersecurity following the recent cyber attacks on government sites such as PhilHealth and the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Cybersecurity is a priority of this government. It is just unfortunate we had several cybersecurity issues,” he added.
But he asserted that cybersecurity must be done by both the government, the private sector, and individuals.
DICT has also partnered with major social media and tech companies like Google, Meta, and Tiktok to help raise awareness on cyber attacks and scams, the official said.
During yesterday’s Global Pilipinas, Digital Festival held at the agency, DICT Secretary John Ivan Uy said the cyber technology industry within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is now worth $1 trillion.
He said there is a projection that in 2024, the cyber technology industry in the ASEAN would even reach a $2 trillion to $3 trillion industry, which will in turn, attract “cyber terrorists.”
Four major social media platforms — Meta/FaceBook, Google, YouTube and Tik Tok — signed in the pledge of commitment stating that.
“We, the leading social media platforms, advocates and partners of Digital Pilipinas join the DICT in the pledge to raise public awareness about cybersecurity threats and how to combat challenges in the cyberspace, and to create a digitally safer Philippines for Filipinos.”
“Our shared goal is to cultivate a culture of responsible online behavior that ensures the well-being of individuals in the digital realm. We join forces with the DICT in building a resilient and a cybersecure digital landscape where Filipinos can confidently navigateand enjoy the benefits of the online world without compromising their safety and privacy,” the statement read.
The government, advocates and other stakeholders signed in the pledge of commitment to fight phishing, text scams and online harms.
Uy expressed gratitude to all of their partners for sharing and exchanging information in going after hackers and cyber terrorists.
