DICT to propose amendments to SIM registration law

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will lobby for amendments to Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act, which may include preventing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in registering subscriber identification modules (SIM) by bulk allegedly used for scams.

Among the agency’s proposed amendments to RA 11934 is limiting the number of SIMs to be registered by one person, according to DICT Undersecretary Alexander Ramos.

Ramos revealed at a media forum yesterday that during the raids by the DICT and law enforcement agencies, they discovered certain individuals employed in so-called scam hubs possess and even sell hundreds of pre-registered SIM cards.

“Syndicates are evolving as they sell 500 to 1,000 pre-registered SIM cards,” he said.

Ramos said a person subject to one of their previous raids used social media and AI to gather information from random users and edit photos.

According to Ramos, scam groups took advantage of complaints of SIM users during the mandated period of SIM registration.

This prompted the DICT to propose an amendment to the SIM Registration Act, which currently does not limit the number of SIM cards to be registered by one person.

While the proposal is still being discussed, Ramos assured the public that the DICT “monitors” bulk registration of SIM cards by certain individuals.

He also emphasized the need for laws to become “flexible” and “technology-driven” to combat evolving cybercrimes.

The DICT is also urging social media companies to “adhere to our laws."

Jocel de Guzman, co-founder of the advocacy group Scam Watch Pilipinas, said scam groups may probably use AI to reach their targets.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) warned the Philippine government about scams involving the sale of tickets for concerts to be held in Singapore in the remaining parts of 2024.

Potential victims would “come across secondary listings of concert tickets for sale through online platforms such as Telegram, X, Facebook, Carousell and Xiaohongshu,” said a portion of the Interpol’s “Purple Notice” shared with The STAR.

Scammers would then bring the victims to other messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and WeChat to continue their transaction. They would either not deliver the tickets or send fake tickets.