SIM Card Registration Act Signed Into Law

The SIM Card Registration Act, also known as Republic Act No. 11934, was passed into law yesterday, Oct. 10, making it the first law to be signed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

According to Cheloy Garafil, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Press Secretary, via a report by INQUIRER.net yesterday, the new law shall provide "accountability in the use of SIM cards and aid law enforcers to track perpetrators of crimes committed through phones."

The Act stipulates, among other things, that telco companies and sellers must require SIM card buyers to provide a valid ID or document. Citizens with SIM cards must register with telcos within a certain timeframe, otherwise their SIM cards will be deactivated. Those who register a SIM card with false information or identities or conduct fraudulent activities will also be penalized, as per the report.

In a press statement yesterday, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) expressed its support for the Act and is fully aware that the registration system "will entail a massive collection of personal data."

The NPC underscored the need for a technology-neutral approach and to "future-proof" the legislation to reach its purpose while still respecting the rights and freedoms of users.

As per the NPC's recommendation, which was adopted in Section 5 of the Act, the burden must not fall on retailers to determine the identity of the SIM card buyer, as they may not have the appropriate resources to verify the authenticity of data subjects’ IDs. The NPC also thumbed down the use of a centralized database due to the risks it carries in the event of a security breach. This was also adopted in Section 6 of the Act.

The NPC has vowed to work closely with the respective government agencies to create and enhance guidelines for the proper implementation of the Act.