Mobile data disclosure faces heavier penalties

MANILA, Philippines - Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte is seeking stiff penalties for unauthorized disclosure of personal information of mobile phone subscribers, including history of voice calls and text messages.

In a statement yesterday, he said such information should not be revealed without a court order or the permission of the subscriber.

“Many cellphone subscribers often get calls or text messages from telemarketers peddling or advertising various kinds of goods or services, even when they haven’t given their mobile phone numbers to any firm or person selling such products or services,” he said.

“A person’s mobile phone number and history of calls and text messages are private, and should not be disclosed by anyone with access to such information, which could be used for malicious purposes,” he said.

Villafuerte has filed Bill 4695, which seeks to punish unauthorized disclosure of mobile phone subscriber’s personal data with imprisonment of six months to one year, and a fine of P100,000 to  P500,000. If the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported after serving the sentence or paying the fine.

The Camarines congressman said the National Telecommunications has been asking the Congress to provide it with more “teeth” to compel telecommunications companies (telcos) to improve their services and speed up the country’s slow Internet connection.

Villafuerte said his bill is a timely response to NTC’s plea.

He said the measure prescribes minimum quality standards for mobile telephone service provides to, once and for all, punish those that are guilty of “horrendous” complaints by subscribers, such as poor network signals, overcharging, interrupted or dropped voice calls, vanishing prepaid loads, and the surge of spam messages.

He added the bill mandates the NTC to come up with a comprehensive and efficient system for subscribers to report their complaints of substandard services by their respective mobile phone service providers.

Other service improvements specified in the Villafuerte measure include offering consumers insurance for their mobile devices and prohibiting unsolicited commercial advertisements unless allowed by them and which must be sent only during business hours.

To further improve mobile voice and data services in the country, Villafuerte has urged local government units (LGUs) to ease regulations for telcos in setting up the infrastructure necessary to ensure the delivery of reliable, faster digital services.

He said telcos have been complaining that they have to secure dozens of permits, mostly from LGUs, to put up cell sites, on top of clearances from the NTC, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Health for radio frequency radiation.

They also have to secure the permission of the barangay or subdivision where the infrastructure would be located, he said.

Aside from Villafuerte, other lawmakers have complained of deteriorating mobile phone and internet services from telcos.