House bill seeks punishment for unauthorized disclosure of phone records

MANILA, Philippines - Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo wants unauthorized access to and disclosure of phone records, including mobile phone numbers, of any citizen punished.

In filing Bill 6130, Arroyo said any resourceful person could now obtain the phone numbers of mobile phone subscribers.

He said his measure would reinforce a person’s right to privacy in communications and correspondence.

His mother, detained former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, co-authored the bill.

Under the bill, violators would be punished with a fine of P20,000 for each violation. Each day of continuing violation would be subject to a fine not exceeding P20,000.

The proposed law does not provide for a prison term for violators.

It would amend Republic Act 4200, entitled, “An Act to prohibit and penalize wire tapping and other related violations of the privacy of communication, and for other purposes.”

“This law, which was passed in 1965, provided protection against individuals who violated privacy of communication by prohibiting and penalizing wiretapping activities,” the younger Arroyo said.

“Due to innovations in information technology, this right to privacy has now been extended in scope to include even electronic ways of communicating,” he said.

The Arroyos’ bill prohibits any person or entity to acquire or use the customer proprietary network information and phone records information of another person without his/her written consent.

Such records include those kept by mobile phone service providers, Internet sites and Internet service firms.

These business entities are likewise covered by the proposed prohibition against unauthorized access to and disclosure of any citizen’s phone records and other information.

Access to such records has become a lucrative business for marketing companies and political operators who sell them to clients.

Mobile phone subscribers have been complaining about unauthorized text messages offering various products and services, or promoting the political plans of certain politicians.