Mandatory registration ng mga social media accounts at SIM cards, aprubado na ng Kongreso

Inaprubahan na ng Kongreso ang panukalang SIM Card Registration Act, kung saan kabilang rin dito ang mandatory registration ng mga social media accounts.

Na-ratify na ng Senado at ng House ang bicameral conference committee report na nag-coconsolidate ng House Bill No. 5793 at Senate Bill No. 2395.

Ayon sa Section 2 ng na-aprubahan na bill: “The State shall require the registration of SIM Cards for electronic devices and social media accounts by all users.”

“Thus there is a need to promote accountability in the use of SIM card and social media and shall provide law enforcement agencies with the tools to resolve crimes which involve its utilization and the platform to deter the commission of wrongdoings,” dagdag nito.

Batay naman sa Section 4 ng bill, “public telecommunications entities shall require the registration of SIM cards as prerequisite to sale and activation.”

Ito’y upang maiwasan ang mga sumusunod:
internet or electronic communication-aided crimes like terrorism
text scams
unsolicited, indecent or obscene messages
bank fraud
libel
anonymous online defamation
trolling
hate speech
spread of digital disinformation or fake news as defined under pertinent laws

Nabanggit rin sa parehong section na, “all social media account providers shall require real-name and phone number upon creation of account.”

Isinaad din nito na ang lahat ng mga subscriber ng SIM card na may mga active services ay dapat magparehistro sa kani-kanilang mga PTEs sa loob ng 180 araw simula sa pagka-bisa ng batas.

Kung hindi nakapag-register sa loob ng nasabing period, automatically i-dedeactivate ng PTEs ang SIM card number at registration, ayon sa batas.

“We change SIM cards as fast as we change our soiled shirts. Alarmingly, this seeming boundless stream of supply has become a magnet for nefarious and illegal activities,” paliwanag ni Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian batay sa ulat ng ABS-CBN.

“By requiring the registration of SIM cards, we promote accountability in its use and provide law enforcement agencies the tool to resolve crimes which involve its utilization.”

(ABS-CBN)